Horticulture workers’ strike continues

Horticulture Department workers continued their strike for the fifth consecutive day, with the protest threatening to derail preparations for the summer festival, and in particular, the Flower Show.

The more than 600 daily wage workers employed by the department sat at the entrance of the Government Botanical Garden on Tuesday, with their mouth shut using pieces of cloth.

They have been demanding that their jobs be regularised, and be given all the benefits that permanent employees were entitled to.

On Monday, the District Collector told the striking workers that the district administration would take up their demands with higher authorities. The protesters refused to return to work stating that their demands should be met with immediate effect.

With no end in sight to the impasse, officials are worried that the strike will have a huge impact on the preparations for the 122nd Ooty Flower Show.

B. Bojraj, Nilgiris district secretary of the AITUC, said that they hoped that the prospect of the flower show being affected would put enough pressure on the department and the government to concede to their demands.

Officials said that the strike has thus far not affected the preparations for the Rose Show, which is to be held this weekend.