Siliguri, July 2: Workers of a tea estate in the Terai today blocked NH31 at Bagdogra for two-and-a-half hours after a lockout was declared.

The blockade, which left nearly 500 vehicles stranded, was lifted around 12.30pm following police intervention.

The authorities of Singhiajhora Tea Estate, located near Bagdogra, declared the closure last night citing lawlessness and detention of the manager.

“On Tuesday, some casual workers asked the manager to change the pro-rata system while paying them for plucking tealeaves,” said Bhaskar Chalia, the secretary of the Terai Branch of the Indian Tea Association. “Yesterday, around 100 of them did not report for duty and persuaded the permanent workers to join them.” The workers kept the manager confined to a veranda. “He was forced to give a written assurance to them and had to walk out of the estate.”

Under the pro-rata system, casual workers have to pluck a minimum quantity of leaves. If one plucks more or less, he/she is paid extra or less wages. The garden has around 300 workers and produces nearly 2.50 lakh kg of tea a year.

Trade union leaders have accused the garden of violating a tripartite agreement. “The management is sending casual workers to pluck in low yield areas. The workers had protested against this. But the authorities, instead of sitting with them, declared a lockout,” said Aloke Chakraborty, the Darjeeling district chief of the Intuc.