TEA workers in West Bengal showed exemplary unity in the two-day strike in gardens, demanding minimum wages and implementation of labour laws. On November 11-12, a complete shutdown was observed in tea gardens of five northern districts, at the call of the joint forum of struggling workers, comprising 23 trade unions. On those two days, thousands of workers marched in the streets, demonstrated in front of garden gates and chased away any attempt of mischief. On the 12th, in another unprecedented action, a general strike was observed in three districts and adjoining areas of two other. The general strike evoked huge response and virtually everything from government offices to markets was closed. Road blockades and solidarity rallies were held throughout northern Bengal. Police arrested nearly 70 persons including CPI(M) leaders Ashok Bhattacharya, Jibesh Sarkar and others in Siliguri. As has been reported earlier in People’s Democracy, tea workers in Hills, Terai and Doors get meagre amount of Rs 95 per day as wage. The owners are flouting other non-cash component obligations as well. The situation has worsened in the recent period, with owners refusing to respond to minimum needs and state government abdicating their responsibility. The time frame of last wage agreement has lapsed on March 31 of this year. But there has been no new agreement till now. Six rounds of talks between owners and trade unions failed to break the deadlock. Tea gardens have witnessed big struggles in the past too, but the unity this time was broadest ever. 23 trade unions, including CITU-affiliated unions, have joined in unison to demand minimum wages under Minimum Wages Act. It amounts to Rs 285 onwards. Workers have also demanded implementation of labour laws in the gardens. The attitude of the TMC government has accentuated the suffering of the workers. In most tripartite meetings, the state administration has shamelessly sided with the owners. They even abstained from the tripartite discussion convened by the centre. The simmering anger burst out in one of the most successful workers’ action in recent history. Two components have attracted attention. For quite some time now, tea garden areas witnessed divisions on ethnic identities, apart from political affiliations. The Gorkhaland movement in Darjeeling hills, the rise of tribal identity politics has led to the weakening of workers’ strength. Owners took full advantage of this situation. But with the joint movement for the last few months, the class identity of the workers again came into fore. In all gardens, flags of CITU, AITUC, UTUC, INTUC, AICCTU unions affiliated to Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and Adivasi Bikash Parishad rose together after decades. Workers participated in deputations, demonstrations, rallies jointly and it created a new enthusiasm among them. Only exception was Trinamool affiliated INTTUC. They alienated themselves by opposing these joint struggles. In the run up to the strikes, workers belonging to this union joined in united actions, disobeying their leaders. This unity gave the workers courage to thwart the threats and pressure from the ruling party and state administration. In one such incident on the first day of the strike, TMC leaders and police force threatened the striking workers of Atal tea estate in Naxalbari and ordered them to open closed gates. They were chased away by women workers. The second component was the solidarity of the civil society, turning the strike into a social action. People from different sections of society participated in conventions and public meetings and expressed solidarity with the workers. On the day before the strike, tea workers in Jalpaiguri moved in numbers in other establishments, including government offices, insurance offices and courts and explained their demands to all sections of middle classes. They received warm response which was reflected in most complete general strike in the last four years in these districts. In an incident, few hundreds of workers blocked the railway line on the second day of the strike. The passengers came out from the train and clapped in support of the workers. Leaders of the Joint Forum said that a new bond between the workers and other sections of the masses has immensely strengthened the trade union movement. Two months ago, taxi workers’ consecutive strikes in Kolkata in the face of police repression gave a signal that the working class in West Bengal will not allow attacks and oppression. Tea workers strike showed that the tide has began to turn. Jute workers are now preparing to go for another united strike on 26th of this month. On the same day, the peasants and working people in the villages will go for a statewide protest action against centre’s attempt to curtail MGNREGA. The AIKS has called for a protest in villages on that day.