Estate Explode

The ongoing strike in the estate sector is taking a big toll on the country's coffers running into billions with plantation companies which earlier refused to meet the workers demand for higher wages now calling on the government to take urgent action.

On the other hand, the workers complain they don't have proper representatives to fight for their rights and that they were mere pawns in the hands of politicians.

According to the Ceylon Employers' Federation (CEF), the loss suffered by 11 out of the 21 plantation companies is estimated at four billion rupees The loss suffered by the rest of the companies is yet to be calculated.

CEF Deputy Director General Ravi Peiris told The Sunday Times that the near month-long action by the workers was the main reason for the revenue loss and the country would have to face disastrous consequences if the government didn't settle the matter urgently.

Giving the breakdown of some individual companies he said one company had suffered a revenue loss of Rs. 56 million while another Rs. 33 million. He said yet another company would lose Rs. 67 million in addition to what it had already lost if the strike continued.

Giving their side of the story Mr. Peiris said the workers' demand for a daily wage of Rs. 300 is difficult to be meet and if done would result in the closure of many companies. He says the CEF has agreed to pay Rs. 240 which would include a basic salary of Rs. 160 and an additional Rs.90 as an allowance.

Meanwhile the workers say they are waging a lone battle for an increase in their daily wage as their union representatives and political leaders have withdrawn support.

They charge that their representatives including the CWC , the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers' Union (LJEWU) and the Joint Plantation Trade Union Centre (JPTC) who have a say with the employers' federation are not fighting for their cause.

They say in spite of the little support they are getting from union representatives or politicians they are adamant to win their demands.

Many of the workers who spoke to us said they had become mere victims in the political race between Arunmugam Thondaman-led Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) and P. Chandrasekaran's Upcountry People's Front (UPF). They charge that the politicos used the workers' plight as a mere platform to gain publicity and ascendancy rather than address the grievances.

"We have virtually lost faith in the big unions that claim they are fighting for our rights. They are more concerned about building their political images even by exploiting our economic hardships. As working people we will continue our struggle until we receive the wage we demanded," P. Maheswaran a worker at Dickoya estate said.

N. Subramaniam, a labourer working at Waltrim Group, Lindula division had a similar lament. He said their representatives had disassociated themselves from the campaign but they are fighting on.

He said he and his wife both work on a tea estate and their monthly wage adds up to less than Rs. 5,000 which is hardly enough to feed and educate their four children. He has pleaded with the government to intervene and see that justice is done to them.

Confirming that this strike is a lone battle being waged by the workers, United Workers' Congress Assistant Secretary S. Jothiwel said the workers have not heeded to calls by certain unions to withdraw from the campaign.

Meanwhile some estate workers who have been angered by the lack of support from the main unions have burnt effigies of certain trade union leaders including one that resembled CWC leader Arunmugam Thondaman.

At present the basic daily pay of an estate worker is Rs. 135. With additional allowances which are not fixed, it comes to about Rs. 198. Since 1996 their daily wage has been only increased by Rs. 52.

The ongoing strike started off as a go-slow campaign by the workers demanding a daily wage of Rs. 300. Since their demands were not met the workers launched a full scale strike from last Tuesday.

However trade union officials say that three unions supported the initial go-slow campaign of the workers, but not the strike. Officials of JPTC, an umbrella organisation of some of the unions say that they are supporting the ongoing strike too. Meanwhile the CWC has called on the workers to abandon the strike and report to work while the UPF says that the workers should continue their struggle. However the workers charge that the UPF is doing little or nothing to support them.

K. Letchumanan who is employed at the Dickoya estate says living itself has become a daily battle for survival with the soaring cost of living and poor wages. He says although their strike action is adding to their burdens they will not give up their battle for the Rs. 300 and will not settle for the amount that the Employers' Federation has agreed to pay them.

"We are facing a lot of hardship as we don't have any income due to the strike. Some of us don't have enough money to even feed ourselves and our children. But we have no option. We won't abandon our fight halfway," a determined Letchumanan said.
While the workers continue to suffer the CWC and UPF are embroiled in a blame game accusing each other of trying to rob the rights of the workers who makeup their voter base.

UPF General Secretary K. Subramaniam charged that although the CWC as a main political party should hold discussions with the Employers' Federation thy have conveniently washed their hands of the workers' fight.

He charged that the CWC which had a majority membership of the estate workers has abandoned them while secretly supporting the employers to curtail their salaries.

Meanwhile United Workers Congress Assistant Secretary S. Jothiwel said the CWC was carrying out a house-to-house campaign persuading the workers to give up the strike and go to work.

"They are going from house-to-house even offering them money to call off the strike. But the people are adamant to carry on with their fight," he said.

He also charged that the UPF led by Minister Chandrasekaran like the CWC publicly made a show of fighting for the right of the estate workers but in reality they did little or nothing.

When contacted by The Sunday Times CWC spokesman R. Yogarajan declined to comment.