A MASSIVE strike organised by women workers of Kannan Devan Hills Plantations in Munnar of Idukki district ended successfully on the ninth day on September 13, after the management conceded to the agitators’ major demands and agreed to disburse bonus of 11.67 percent and ex-gratia of 8.33 percent. The agreement came after a marathon negotiation among representatives of workers’ unions, management and the government in Kochi, chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandi. The women workers began the strike as the management had cut down bonuses. The government has agreed that the demands of the workers for wage hike will be discussed in plantation labour committee. After the meeting, the chief minister announced that a new hospital with modern facilities will be set up in Munnar. The agitating women workers expressed their gratitude to all people and political leaders, especially leader of opposition in Kerala assembly, V S Achuthanandan, for extending support. Earlier, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Party Central Committee members P K Srimathi and K K Shailaja visited the striking workers in Munnar and expressed the Party’s solidarity with them. Veteran Leader Achuthanandan sat with the workers a whole day. Local MLA and CPI(M) leader S Rajendran also held a dharna near Munnar. CITU state secretary Elamaram Karim said that the anger of the workers surged when the management announced low rate of bonus to the workers this year. All trade unions had vehemently opposed the decision. Workers started the strike to protest the exploitation of the management and the negligence of the state government, he said. There was a concerted effort from a section of media to deviate the whole episode of the strike to an apolitical affair. The media termed that this strike was against all trade unions. Women leaders, however, categorically stated that they never attempted to keep the trade unions away from the strike. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan said the anger of the workers is natural when exploitation deepens and they are deprived of their rights. CPI(M) is the only political party which stood with the strikers and extended support to them.