In early September 2015, thousands of women tea pluckers at Kannan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP) in Munnar, Kerala, blocked the hill town for nine days after the company cut their annual bonus from 20 to 10 per cent. They kept out the established trade unions, which they accused of colluding with the management, and turned away most politicians. On 13 September a deal brokered by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy gave them 20 per cent, split into bonus and ex-gratia. A separate state-wide wage pact in October raised daily tea wages from Rs 232 to Rs 301. The collective, Pembilai Orumai ("women's unity"), won three local body seats that year, then split and shrank.
Key takeaways
- Women tea pluckers at Kannan Devan Hills Plantations in Munnar struck work in early September 2015 after the company halved their bonus to 10 per cent, citing a fall in profit.
- The strikers kept out the AITUC, CITU and INTUC unions, which they accused of agreeing to the cut with the management, attacked union offices, and chased away the local CPI(M) MLA.
- On 13 September 2015 talks chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Kochi produced a 20 per cent package: 8.33 per cent bonus and 11.67 per cent ex-gratia, as a "special case".
- A state-wide plantation strike for a Rs 500 daily wage ended on 14 October 2015 with an average tea wage of Rs 301. Planters called the rise "unreasonable".
- Pembilai Orumai won three local body seats in November 2015, but then split. Leader Gomathi joined the CPI(M) in 2016, and the Lissy Sunny faction aligned with the Aam Aadmi Party.
Background: an "employee-owned" tea company
The Munnar tea estates in Idukki district were run for decades by Tata Tea. In 2005 a new company, Kannan Devan Hills Plantations, was formed and most shares were transferred to workers and other stakeholders. It was billed as one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world openDemocracy.
Accounts of the shareholding differ. The Indian Express reported that workers held 68 per cent, Tata Tea 18 per cent and a trust and others 14 per cent, but that ordinary workers had only 300 shares each with a face value of Rs 10 Indian Express. Outlook put Tata Global's stake at 28.52 per cent and the roughly 11,500 permanent workers' at 54 per cent Outlook.
Most pluckers are women, and most are Dalits whose families were brought from Tamil Nadu to the colonial plantations openDemocracy. Their basic daily wage in 2015 was Rs 232 IANS via Madhyamam. They lived in company housing; one strike slogan, in Tamil, contrasted "a house of holes for us" with "a luxury bungalow for you" Outlook.
How it started: the bonus cut
On 22 August 2015 the company declared the minimum bonus of 10 per cent, citing falling profits. Outlook gave the figures as Rs 5.02 crore in 2014-15, down from Rs 15.55 crore in 2013-14 Outlook. The previous year's bonus had been 20 per cent according to the company Indian Express; Chief Minister Chandy later put it at 19 per cent IANS via The News Minute.
Workers began a go-slow. According to Outlook, the unions met the management, accepted the bonus and told workers to return to work. A union leaders' meeting on 5 September was disrupted, and the next day larger crowds destroyed union offices in the town Outlook. Onmanorama dates the first marches by small groups of women to 5 September Onmanorama.
Why the women bypassed the unions
The strikers refused to let the AITUC, CITU and INTUC, affiliated to the CPI, CPI(M) and Congress, join the protest. Claim · Strikers They alleged that union leaders had colluded with the management to deny them a 20 per cent bonus Indian Express.
Kerala AAP convenor Sarah Joseph said people felt the unions enjoyed "free housing, sponsorships, jobs for the children". KDHP officials told Outlook the company had leased 40 houses to trade unions, "not to leaders", and confirmed that four children of union leaders worked as staff in the company Outlook. CPI(M) leader Thomas Isaac said "none of the leaders has accepted any housing or favours from the management" Outlook.
The protesters also released a list of 150 political leaders they said had accepted favours from the company, including houses The News Minute. Devikulam sub-collector P Rajeev, who led early conciliation talks, said "the agitation has no leaders" Indian Express. Leaders soon emerged, including Lissy Sunny, Gomathi, J Rajeswari and Sundaravalli Outlook The News Minute.
Timeline
10 per cent bonus declared
KDHP declares the minimum bonus. Workers start a go-slow Outlook.
Walkout and union offices attacked
Women march to the company headquarters. On Sunday 6 September workers attack the trade union offices and union leaders go into hiding Indian Express.
Officials held
The sub-collector says agitators held senior KDHP officials "as hostages" on Monday. Indian Express.
Munnar at a standstill
About 4,000 workers fill the streets for a third day. Indian Express.
MLA chased away
The women chase away Devikulam's CPI(M) MLA S Rajendran, who was holding a parallel sit-in in their support IANS via The News Minute Deccan Herald. Three women leaders sent by the CPI(M) are asked to leave, and those sent by the Congress also face the workers' ire Khaleej Times.
Achuthanandan joins
Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan, the one politician the strikers welcomed, calls KDHP a "fraud company" run by Tata The News Minute, and sits with the protesters until the settlement is announced IANS via Madhyamam.
Bonus deal
After a day of talks in Kochi, Chandy announces the 20 per cent package. The strike is called off around 9 pm Khaleej Times.
Wage talks fail
The Plantation Labour Committee fails twice to agree on wages. About three lakh plantation workers across Kerala go on an indefinite strike called by the united trade unions from 28 September IANS via Madhyamam Deccan Chronicle.
Orumai's own strike, stones thrown
Pembilai Orumai launches a separate strike, then a relay hunger strike. Members of the unions' joint council allegedly stone the women and the media; four journalists, a policeman and a worker suffer minor injuries IANS via Madhyamam.
Wage pact
Tripartite talks fix average daily wages of Rs 301 in tea and coffee, Rs 381 in rubber and Rs 330 in cardamom. The strike is called off IANS via Madhyamam.
The settlements
Bonus. The talks in Kochi on 13 September were led in the morning by Labour Minister Shibu Baby John and Electricity Minister Aryadan Muhammed, with Chandy joining later. Chandy said the management had raised "certain technical and economic issues" but agreed with the government's position IANS via Madhyamam.
The management said it would accept it as a special case if the government declares that 8.33 per cent bonus and 11.67 ex gratia (total 20 per cent) will be given to the workers.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Kochi, 13 September 2015 (IANS)
Chandy said the workers' demand for better medical facilities was also agreed, and the wage demand would go to the Plantation Labour Committee on 26 September IANS via The News Minute.
Wages. The strikers had demanded Rs 500 a day The News Minute. At the 29 September committee meeting, some planters offered a raise if daily plucking rose from 21 kg to 31 kg; the unions refused. The government set up a secretary-level panel under Additional Chief Secretary K M Abraham Deccan Chronicle. Labour Minister Shibu Baby John said Pembilai Orumai could not sit on the committee because it was not a registered union: "This is not permissible under the act" Outlook.
The 14 October pact gave tea workers an average of Rs 301, an increase of Rs 65 to Rs 69 across crops IANS via Madhyamam. The Hindu reported that most workers at KDHP returned to work but were unhappy with the size of the rise, since the unions had promised to double the wage The Hindu via BHRRC. NPR later reported that the raise applied to tea pickers across the state NPR.
Both accounts
Workers' account
The women said they bore the cost of low tea prices while unions sided with the company. "When they cut our bonus in half last September, we said we won't work like this," Lissy Sunny told NPR NPR. Sundaravalli, a leader, said workers were told they had "become owners too" in 2005 but their lives had not improved Outlook. Claim · Strikers They also said the company had diluted welfare duties under the Plantations Labour Act, 1951 openDemocracy.
Company, planters and government account
KDHP said the tea industry was in "severe crisis", that income fell 68 per cent in 2014-15, and that the 10 per cent bonus was decided at its annual meeting after consulting the main unions Indian Express. The Association of Planters of Kerala said tea cost Rs 122 a kg to produce against an average Kochi price of Rs 84, and that Rs 500 was unviable Deccan Chronicle. Government's position Chandy said the government "would not take any decision which will destroy the plantation sector" IANS via Madhyamam.
After the wage pact, UPASI president N Dharmaraj called it "unreasonable", said the 30 per cent plus rise in tea was the highest ever, and warned many plantations would have to cut their workforce IANS via Madhyamam. KDHP did not respond to NPR's requests for comment in 2016 NPR.
Claim · CITU leader On 14 September CITU state secretary K P Sahadevan said "Tamil extremist groups" had sneaked into the strike. No evidence He offered none, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said there had been no such support, and Sahadevan withdrew the remark and apologised IANS via Business Standard.
What happened to the movement
Elections. In the November 2015 local body polls, Pembilai Orumai fielded 39 candidates in Idukki and won three seats: Gomathi in the Devikulam block panchayat, and Vellathayi and Mariyammal in the Munnar grama panchayat The News Minute. Gomathi was attacked during a victory procession and her family was assaulted that night. MLA S Rajendran said the attackers were Left trade unionists and called it "retaliation" for "provocative celebrations"; Idukki SP K V Joseph said there was no provocation from the Orumai side The News Minute.
Split. Gomathi joined the CPI(M) in 2016 The News Minute. General secretary J Rajeswari contested the Devikulam Assembly seat in 2016 The News Minute; Lissy Sunny later said she got only about 500 votes The News Minute. In September 2016 the collective announced a merger with the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, with Lissy Sunny claiming about 3,400 members The News Minute.
The MM Mani protest. On 22 April 2017 Electricity Minister MM Mani, speaking in Adimaly, suggested "drinking alcohol and all sorts of indecent activity" during the 2015 agitation The News Minute. Gomathi, who had left the CPI(M) that month, led a road sit-in and a hunger strike from 25 April demanding an apology and his resignation. The CPI(M) warned Mani publicly but did not drop him, and the Kerala High Court asked the government why it had not acted The News Minute. The protest ended after about 20 days without an apology The News Minute.
The two factions then fought over the Munnar office, each accusing the other over missing funds Onmanorama. In 2019 Gomathi stood for the Idukki Lok Sabha seat as an independent and won 1,985 votes Onmanorama.
By 2021. Onmanorama reported that the group had "faded into relative oblivion". Lissy Sunny said many members had gone back to AITUC, INTUC and CITU because those unions' cooperative societies gave loans, and that about 2,000 remained. She said the daily wage was Rs 400 and the bonus "still 10-12 per cent" Onmanorama.
Outcome
- Bonus: 20 per cent for 2014-15 (8.33 per cent bonus plus 11.67 per cent ex-gratia), agreed 13 Sept 2015.
- Wages: Rs 232 to an average Rs 301 a day in tea, state-wide, from the 14 Oct 2015 pact. The Rs 500 demand was not met.
- Unions: CPI(M) leaders called for introspection; a union leader told NPR they had "missed the women's grievances".
- Violence: Minor injuries in the 30 Sept 2015 stone-pelting and in the November 2015 attack on Gomathi. No deaths reported.
- Organisation: Split into factions by 2017; about 2,000 members claimed in 2021.
Where things stand
No reporting from 2022 to 2026 on Pembilai Orumai as an active force was found for this page. The issues it raised, plantation wages, housing and land for workers, remain live in Kerala. In 2021 Lissy Sunny said the Left government was providing five cents of land and Rs 4.5 lakh for houses to about 2,300 families, a claim not independently checked here Onmanorama.
Questions people ask
What was Pembilai Orumai?
It means "women's unity" in Tamil. It was the collective formed by women tea pluckers at Kannan Devan Hills Plantations in Munnar during their September 2015 strike, outside the established trade unions.
Why did the Munnar tea workers strike in 2015?
The company cut the annual bonus to 10 per cent, from 20 per cent the year before, citing a fall in profit. Workers also demanded a daily wage of Rs 500 instead of Rs 232 and better housing and medical care.
Why did the women reject the trade unions?
They alleged that union leaders had agreed to the bonus cut with the management and received favours such as housing. The company said it had consulted the unions; a CPI(M) leader denied that leaders took favours.
What did the Munnar strikers win?
A 20 per cent payout on 13 September 2015, made up of 8.33 per cent bonus and 11.67 per cent ex-gratia. A separate state-wide pact on 14 October 2015 raised the average tea wage to Rs 301 a day.
What happened to Pembilai Orumai later?
It won three local body seats in 2015, then split. One faction aligned with the Aam Aadmi Party, and many workers returned to the old unions. By 2021 it claimed about 2,000 members.
Sources
- Indian Express: Kerala: 4,000 tea workers protest bonus cut, keep unions out in Munnar, 9 Sept 2015
- Outlook: Chai with a twist, Sept 2015
- openDemocracy: The women strike back: the protest of Pembillai Orumai tea workers, 4 Feb 2016
- The News Minute: Stir against Kanan Devan intensifies in Munnar, VS calls it Tata's 'fraud' company, 13 Sept 2015
- IANS via Madhyamam: Munnar tea plantation workers end 9-day strike, 14 Sept 2015
- IANS via The News Minute: Nine-day women's stir at Munnar plantation ends, 14 Sept 2015
- Deccan Herald: Munnar tea estate strike ends, 14 Sept 2015
- Khaleej Times: Women tea workers in Kerala secure benefits, 15 Sept 2015
- IANS via Business Standard: CITU says Tamil extremists helped Munnar stir, CPI-M denies, 14 Sept 2015
- Deccan Chronicle: Planters moot expert panel on tea labour, 25 Sept 2015
- IANS via Madhyamam: Plantation workers launch indefinite stir, 28 Sept 2015
- Deccan Chronicle: As talks fail, Munnar women to resume stir, 30 Sept 2015
- IANS via Madhyamam: Women tea pluckers begin hunger strike, 1 Oct 2015
- IANS via Madhyamam: Plantation workers' wage increase unreasonable: UPASI, 20 Oct 2015
- The Hindu, excerpted by Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: Kerala plantation workers end stir, Oct 2015
- The News Minute: Smiles all around: Pembilai Orumai wins big in Kerala polls, 7 Nov 2015
- The News Minute: Pembilai Orumai's woman leader assaulted after victory, 9 Nov 2015
- The News Minute: Pembilai Orumai tests the waters of state elections, 28 Apr 2016
- NPR: Female tea workers in one Indian state fight for their rights, 4 Jul 2016
- The News Minute: Kerala's firebrand women's union Pembilai Orumai merges with AAP, 8 Sept 2016
- The News Minute: Kerala minister MM Mani accuses women's group of 'indecent activities', 23 Apr 2017
- The News Minute: Trouble in Pembilai Orumai? Gomathi's protest against MM Mani brings 'split' to fore, 24 Apr 2017
- The News Minute: Pembilai Orumai ends hunger strike, but will protest till Mani resigns, 30 Apr 2017
- Onmanorama: Factional rift rips apart Pembilai Orumai, 17 May 2017
- The News Minute: Pembilai Orumai complaint on Gomathi: latest in the group's internal rift, 14 Apr 2019
- Onmanorama: Kerala Poll Special: Why Pombilai Orumai is missing from action, 3 Feb 2021