The tripartite meeting at the DLC office in Jalpaiguri on Friday. Picture by Biplab Basak

Siliguri, Dec. 11: A tripartite agreement between labour officials, trade union leaders and the management of Nowera Nudday Tea Estate today paved the way for reopening of the closed garden tomorrow.

The Tata Tea-owned garden in Malbazar block has been closed since September 14.

“Today, we have arrived at a consensus for reopening the garden from tomorrow. However, proceedings against those who allegedly violated the management’s directives will continue on the basis of the August 27 tripartite agreement,” said Prabir Bhattacharjee, the secretary of the Dooars Branch of the Indian Tea Association of which the Tata garden is a member.

Today’s meeting at the deputy labour commissioner’s (DLC) office in Jalpaiguri was attended by around 200 workers from both the Citu-run Cha Bagan Mazdoor Union and the Hind Mazdoor Sabha-affiliated West Bengal Cha Mazdoor Sabha (WBCMS).

“The meeting decided that the management would disburse the ration and wages due to workers by December 15, while the bonus would be paid by December 25,” said Pulin Goldar, the assistant secretary of the WBCMS.

On August 10 a section of workers allegedly assaulted R.K. Ratan Singh, the medical officer of the garden, and kept him confined to his room for reportedly not granting maternity leave to a worker. A tripartite meeting on August 27 decided to suspend the 7-8 workers allegedly involved in the assault. As the garden reopened on August 28, the suspended workers joined work ignoring the management’s directives, prompting the authorities to announce indefinite suspension of work from September 14.

Rajat Pal, the DLC, said: “Both sides insisted on maintaining peace and not disrupting regular activities. They have agreed to abide by the tripartite agreement signed on August 27.”