Collective bargaining in the Indian tea industry involves unions representing over 2 million tea plantation workers negotiating with tea companies on issues like wages, benefits, and working conditions. The main union bodies and tea companies engage in bargaining at both the individual plantation level and through larger organizations like the Indian Tea Association. While some larger companies provide benefits like free housing directly, bargaining topics are constrained by the Plantation Labor Act which excludes wage negotiation and reserves some issues for state-level determination. Observers argue the government could facilitate more effective industry-wide bargaining through measures like compulsory union recognition and a statutory framework.

1. Collective Bargaing in Tea CompaniesSharath GhoshSayanMukharjeeRakeshGakareSathyaPrakkash VJ

2. AgendaA brief on Collective BargainingA brief of Indian Tea IndustryDucans IndustriesGoodricke Group LtdCollective bargaining among Union and Tea Companies ObjectivesComparison with the west

3. A brief on Collective BargainingPLA Act. (1951)

4. A brief of Indian Tea Industry172 years oldIndia accounts for 31% of global production1692 registered manufacturers, 2200 tea exporters, 5548 registered buyers9 tea auction centers (incl. 4 online exchanges)India accounts for around 12-13% of world tea exportsOver 13,000 gardens, and a total workforce of over two million peopleAccounts for 0.8% of Indian exports with a turnover of 18000 crore

5. A brief of Indian Tea Industry

6. A brief of Indian Tea Industry

7. Ducans IndustriesPart of the GoenkafamilyTea gardens encompass over 7500 hectares of land spread over the Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling regions of North BengalImplemented Quality Systems in line with ISO 9002 standardsOne of the finest clonal gardens in the world.

8. Goodricke Group LtdEstablished tea gardens progressively in 197717 existing tea gardens of Goodricke Group Ltd.Covers 12 estates

9. Goodricke Group Ltd

10. Collective bargaining among Union and Tea Companies2nd largest employer>2 million workersState GovernmentTea Board of India(Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt of India)CCPA (Umbrella Body)AssamAssam Cha MazdoorSangh (INC)

11. Assam SangramiChahShramikSangh (CPI)West Bengal All West Bengal Tea Garden Labourers Union(CPI)

12. Darjeeling District Chia Kaman Majdoor Union (CPI)Indian Tea Association

13. PLA ActPlantation Labor Act (1951)Only Goodricke and Duncan provide 100% housing, others involve in local bargainingCannot bargain on wage and ration1 meeting in 3 years for wage revisionMain dispute on efficiency of workers (output)Free Housing

14. Ration

15. MedicalPLA ActIn case of any dispute meetings are heldIf not solved in the first level the move to the next level

16. PLA Act