Estate crisis:

TU action to continue

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The joint trade union action launched by three trade unions in the estate sector for a pay hike will be continued until the workers' rights are won, representatives of the three Trade Unions said.

These three trade unions of estate workers have been demanding a pay hike for over three months from the Employers' Federation and companies that run the estates.

The unions asked for a wage increase to Rs. 500 per day. It is said that an estate worker's wage is around Rs. 270 per day.

However the Employers Federation and companies have agreed to increase the daily wage to only Rs. 330 in the first year while in the second year it would be Rs. 360.

But the trade unions are not agreeable and they have decided to continue their union action until they receive their demands.

Under this situation the 'non coorperative movement' will continue, union sources said.

"The unions never wanted to paralyze the estate sector as estate workers as well as companies that run estates must exist together. Therefore the unions will never go for a strike or a 'work slow'" union sources said.