Munnar Kanan Devan model agitation will create anarchy, CPI

The Kerala unit of Communist Party of India (CPI) has expressed its displeasure over the Munnar tea workers agitation for not having the support of trade unions.

 

A nine-day spontaneous protest by more than 7,000 women plantation workers demanding better conditions, both in terms of bonus and facilities,  had no support of any political parties  or trade unions and the women took special interest to keep away all the political leaders from the agitation.

 

Now CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran told media that the Munnar model agitations without the support of trade unions will result in anarchy.

 

“Established trade unions can't start spontaneous protests as labour laws mandate a minimum notice period of 14 days for a strike. We need to abide by the labour laws,” Rajendran, told reporters as per The Times of India report.

 

He said that trade unions had already put forth the need of minimum wage Rs 500 even before the agitation. However Rajendran admitted that trade Unions are no more powerful in bargaining with the management.

 

“Because of lack of legal and governmental support  unions find it difficult to achieve their demands,“ he said.

According to the report he also alleged that state cabinet's decision on Wednesday to frame rules for providing 5% of plantation land for non-plantation purposes  was mysterious.