JORHAT, March 7 - The Hunwal Tea Estate at Mariani under Titabar Civil Sub-division of Jorhat district declared an indefinite lockout of the garden from Friday night following massive protest by workers and other �riotous acts� over a bonus issue.
As per the lockout notice issued by the Superintendent of the tea garden, the management declared 8.33 per cent bonus to the workers in September last year. However, this was not acceptable to the workers who demanded a 20 per cent bonus. The management agreed to payment of the amount by ex gratia in two instalments. As per the notice, 10 per cent (8.33 per cent bonus and 1.67 ex gratia) was paid prior to Durga puja in 2019 while remaining five per cent was to be paid in March this year and another five per cent in July, 2020.
The notice further stated that when the management was readying to pay the 5 per cent as agreed to by the workers earlier last year, the workers leaving their workplaces on Friday morning gheraoed the office of the Superintendent, and demanded 10 per cent instead resulting in an unruly scene
About an hour later, the notice said that the workers entered the Manager�s office complex and assaulted the manager�s office staff and using abusive language the mob warned that they would attack the manager.
However, a police official said that policemen arrived at the garden and brought the situation under control.
The Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Roshni A Korati said that discussions were on with both sides, mediated by Assistant Labour Commissioner and officials of the district administration today to resolve the issue. She further said that as per information received by the administration no assault had taken place.
