Estate Workers To Strike Demanding Salary Increase

Estate workers salary increase is governed and determined by Joint Agreement signed between workers Unions and Plantation Employers Union. Joint Agreement which was in operation expired in March 2005. Since then they were agitating for an increase. As the plantation companies are facing loses, Employers Union has told the Minister John   Senivaratrne that they cannot pay the government proposed increase of Rs 2,500 to estate employees. But the Minister insists that  it should be paid to estate workers.  If the companies fail to pay the increased Rs 2,500 to estate employees, he threaten them to take legal action.

In one side the tug of war is going on whether to pay it  or not.On the other hand estate unions are in the process of organizing a massive strike in Estates.