The houseboat sector at Kumarakom and Alappuzha that remained paralysed for the past eight days due to an indefinite strike called by the workers’ unions will resume functioning from Thursday. The workers’ union called off the strike following talks with the operators. The meeting was called by Minister for Tourism A.P. Anil Kumar.
According to Sreekumar, representative of the All Kerala House Boat Owners’ Association, it has been agreed to pay Rs. 8250 as bonus. The House Boat and Resort Workers Union had demanded two months pay as bonus and 15 days’ wage as salary advance for Onam. Meanwhile K.R. Ratheesh, president of the workers’ union claimed the talks held on September 12, had arrived at a consensus.
He said the delay in implementing the decision by the operators led to the strike. “In fact, those owners who had agreed to pay the bonus were operating their boats from September 13,” he said.
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