TEA workers in West Bengal are preparing for a historic two-day strike beginning 11th November, demanding minimum wages and implementation of labour laws in tea estates. The strike call, given by a joint forum of tea workers comprising 23 trade unions, has evoked tremendous response in five northern districts of West Bengal -- Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and North Dinajpur. The strike action has come as a culmination of months of joint struggle. The workers’ struggle will be supported by a general strike in adjacent areas in those five districts on 12th November. Tea workers in the Hills, Terai and the Dooars get a paltry amount of Rs 95 per day as wage. The owners are failing to maintain other non-cash component obligations as well. The situation has worsened in recent period, with the owners refusing to respond to the minimum needs and the state government abdicating its responsibility. The time frame of last wage agreement has lapsed on 31st March 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. The workers are not being paid variable dearness allowance though it was agreed earlier. The trade unions have joined in unison to demand minimum wages under the Minimum Wages Act. It amounts to Rs 285 onwards. Workers have also demanded implementation of labour laws in the gardens. For the past few years, the production has increased in gardens resulting in larger profit for the owners. But nothing of it has benefited the workers. On the contrary, many tea gardens remained closed for long. In tea estates like Dheklapara, Red Bank, Surendra Nagar, Dharanipur, Raipur in Jalpaiguri-Alipurduar belt recurrence of starvation deaths was seen. The attitude of the TMC government has accentuated the misery 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. In the last meeting on 5th November, the state labour minister refused to give any assurance to trade unions. For the past few years, tea workers suffered from the adverse effects of divisions among them, mainly on identity. The Gorkhaland Movement in Darjeeling hills, the rise of tribal identity politics have led to the weakening of the workers’ unity. The tide has now turned to a great extent. All trade unions, from CITU to those affiliated with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and the Adivasi Vikash Parishad have joined in the common struggle. A new sense of class identity has begun to rise again in the lands of Two Leaves and A Bud. In recent weeks, massive demonstration and joint rallies took place in gardens. On 13th October, all workers in five districts left their workplace for a day and demonstrated in front of government offices, including their respective District Magistrate’s office. All gardens remained closed on that day and united processions adorned the picturesque land. Only exception to this united struggle is the trade union affiliated to ruling Trinamool Congress. However, workers in gardens have refused to heed to dictates of TMC and joined the movement.