Aralam Farm workers begin indefinite strike, demand wage hike

Workers of the Aralam Farm in nearby Kannur district today began an indefinite strike demanding wages on par with other government farms.
The united forum of Aralam Farm Labourers Union, comprising CITU, INTUC, AITUC and BMS, have given the call for the strike as the talks between the government and the trade unions failed to reach any conclusion.
The also demand regularisation of the service of those who have been working as casual labourers for more than three years in the farm and other related benefits, union sources said.
Advocate Sunny Joseph, MLA, who inaugurated the agitation, said the striking workers would protest in front of the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram if the government failed to resolve the issues affecting the labourers immediately.

There were 219 permanent employees and 304 temporary labourers working in the Aralam Farming Corporation (Kerala) Limited, a public sector undertaking for tribals resettled in Kannur district.