'Munnar Green Blood Revolution' Splinters And The Hunger Striking Women Faint

By Countercurrents.org

05 October, 2015
Countercurrents.org

The Munnar Green Blood Revolution led by the women workers of Tata led Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company (P) Ltd (KDHP) has taken a dangerous turn. 7 women workers who were on hunger strike since saturday fainted and taken to hospital. There were no ambulances. People who fainted were carried in auto rickshaws and police jeeps.

'Penkal Otrumai' (w0men's unity) as the all women strike is known went on hunger strike on Saturday demanding higher wages. Established trade unions are also on hunger strike airing the same demands.

In the first week of September women workers of KDHP began a spontaneous strike demanding 20 % annual bonus shunning all established trade unions. The historic strike won a temporary victory when KDHP awarded them 20 % bonus after several discussions with the workers and the state government. The KDHP did not agree to their other main grievance of Rs 500 daily wage. The workers now earn a daily wage of Rs 234. The company says that such a huge hike would destroy the plantation industry.

The established trade unions mobilised workers of all other plantations in Idukki district, where most of the plantations of Kerala are located and launched a strike demanding daily wage of Rs 500.

There was a split in 'Penkal Otrumai' movement as majority of women workers joined the strike launched by the trade unions. At present two parallel strikes are going on in Munnar, one launched by 'Penkal Otrumai' and the other by the established trade unions.

Photographs By Amirtharaj Stephen

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