Some 16 Cameroon Tea Estate, CTE, Ndu, workers' representatives, who have been acting as spokespersons for their colleagues have resigned.
Cross Section of CTE Ndu workers during strike
The resignations came on November 23, 2006, when the Divisional Officer, DO, for Ndu Subdivision, John Yorisombom Mkong, banned further meetings between the supposed workers' representatives and CTE management.
Prior to the order, the spokespersons had allegedly been receiving threats from local Donga Mantung administrators. The threats are said to intimidate the striking workers into receiving an earlier rejected FCFA 181,653,195 being workers dues.
According to the DO's letter dated November 20, he received directives from hierarchy "to stop forthwith interviews you have been holding with some workers of CTE Ndu plantation..."
The letter further stated "that such meetings are likely to degenerate as was the case with that of November 17, 2006. You shall apply for and obtain authorisation and moderation from the competent administrative authority if you deem it absolutely necessary to hold such meetings."
The Post learnt that the DO's letter came in the wake of a meeting recently between workers' representatives and CTE management which almost degenerated into a bloody confrontation.
The workers said the purpose of the meeting was to have some urgent clarifications and agree on ways of recovering almost lost social funds and properties which are in the hands of some CTE staff.
Despite the presence of the gendarmerie brigade commander, some recalcitrant workers assaulted their spokespersons. The incident reportedly degenerated and the DO deployed a truckload of gendarmes to maintain order.
In reply to the banning order, the workers regretted that the ultimatum empowers those keeping their social funds and properties to confiscate them. They listed the items to include television and musical sets, chairs and money estimated at over FCFA 1.4 million,
The workers also claimed compensation for lost property when they were confronted on August 30 by the military brought in during a sit-down strike at the tea factory. The workers noted that they have no option but to confront CTE management and administrators as a mob for issues to be sorted out.
The workers hinted that there are plans by CTE management to ferry in 1000 workers to resume work on the plantation. It is also alleged that 200 gendarmes would be brought in to guard the said workers as they carry out their duties.
Some workers told The Post that there was discrimination in the handling of their issue while others saw the corruption of the Labour Minister in the issue. The Post was also informed that the DO for Ndu has instructed some school authorities in the Subdivision to send away children whose parents are workers of CTE.
It was hinted that the issue, which allegedly came up during a PTA meeting at GHS Ndu, is one of the strategies to force the already desperate workers to collect the FCFA 181,653,195 they had rejected.
Investigations carried out across schools in the area indicate that hundreds of children whose parents work at the estate are yet to register in the schools.
Oh our poor relatives. Perishing under the colonial antics of La Republique Du Cameroun through a sham privatisation. Baba Danpullo and the impostors Bronbon Finex. What a shame to this conspiracy to murder!!!!!!!!
Posted by: rexon | Tuesday, 28 November 2006 at 08:38 AM