Plantation unions announce protest against POABS Group, lockout continues on Haileyburia estate

After the lockout announced by the Haileyburia Tea Estates in Peerumade, another tea estate in Vandiperiyar is also under the threat of lockout.

The plantation workers’ union has announced an open protest against the POABS Group in Vandiperiyar as the company is withholding salary and benefits to employees.

The Indian National Trade Union Congress-affiliated High Range Plantation Employees Union (HRPEU) and Kerala Plantation Workers Union (KPWU) will conduct a protest at Vandiperiyar town on August 26 demanding that the pending salary and other benefits be distributed immediately. Former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Muraleedharan will inaugurate the protest.

For six months

KPWU general secretary Shaji Pynadathu said that the company had not paid salaries to workers for the past six months. “The company has failed to provide gratuity to the workers for the past five years and has not paid Provident Fund (PF) for two years. The workers and unions plan to stage a protest on Thiruvonam day in front of the owners’ bungalows at Thiruvalla,” said Mr. Pynadathu.

There are seven estates—Pambanar, Granby, Munjamullay (Manjumala), Nellikai, Thengakal, Injikadu, and Pasumallay (Pashumala)—under the group in Vandiperiyar.

A POABS Group source said that the company was trying to avoid lockout and continue the functioning of the estates. “The salary dues are a reality. Only 25% of the workers join plantation work now. Due to the absence of adequate manpower, the company is unable to collect tea leaves on time and sell good-quality tea, affecting revenue generation. The company is trying to solve the salary issues,” said the source.

Talks fail

Meanwhile, the lockout on Haileyburia Tea Estate in Peerumade will continue as the second round of talks convened by the Regional Labour Commissioner in Kochi on Wednesday failed to find a solution.

Cyriac Thomas, president of the HRPEU, said the owners did not participate in the talks on Wednesday. “The next talks will be held on August 25,” said Mr. Thomas.

According to the estate officials, the lockout will continue till August 25.

The management had halted the operations at the four estates on August 7 after labour unions organised protests demanding the payment of salary dues and other benefits.