The bipartite decision made by representatives of tea planters’ associations and leaders of tea trade unions for payment of bonus at 16 per cent rate to workers serving in the tea estates of the Terai and the Dooars has not gone down well with large sections of the workforce.

While workers of two tea estates — Kartick and Rydak in Alipurduar district — have resorted to demonstrations over the demand of a higher bonus, workers in some other gardens of the district are holding gate meetings and joining their duties late, much to the concern of the management.

The bonus was 19 per cent last year. Pre-festive season bonuses are offered as a percentage of the workers’ annual earnings around this time every year. The highest bonus that can be awarded is 20 per cent.

Such a situation has prompted the management of Kartick and Rydak to issue pre-lockout notices on Monday, where it was said that if the workers did not stop their demonstration, the management might think of announcing the suspension of work in these gardens.

There are 1,500 workers in Kartick. Rydak employs around 3,000 workers.

On Monday late afternoon, the Rydak management withdrew the managerial staff from the garden, citing safety concerns, sources said.

“The decision was made through bipartite talks. But now, a section of workers are demanding the bonus at a higher rate. Despite suffering losses in production, the tea companies have agreed to a bonus at the rate of 16 per cent. Such demonstrations and delays in joining duties by workers are affecting regular activities in some of the gardens. If such a situation persists, the management of these gardens can think of announcing suspension of work,” said Prabir Bhattacharjee, the secretary general of the Tea Association of India.

Sources said that in tea gardens such as Atiabari, Mechpara and Demdima tea estates, which are also in Alipurduar district, workers begin their work at least two hours after the stipulated time.

In those first two workhours, they attend meetings at the entrances to the gardens, where they demand higher bonuses.

“In these meetings, workers raise the demand for a higher bonus. Such activities only affect tea production every day,” said a tea planter.

After three rounds of bipartite talks in Calcutta, the rate of bonus — 16 per cent — for the Terai and the Dooars tea gardens was decided on September 19.

The rate of bonus is yet to be decided for the tea estates located in the hills.

The trade unions in the hills are demanding a bonus at the rate of 20 per cent.

They have resorted to protests and demonstrations to press their demand and have announced that they would not allow the dispatch of teas from the gardens until 20 per cent bonus is given.