Supporters of political parties opposed to the CWC’s agreeing to less than Rs. 500 as the daily wage of estate workers, yesterday clashed with the police at Bogawantalawa. Political sources said that the police had fired tear gas after protesters threw stones at an office of CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman and the Bogawantalawa police station.

Up-Country People’s Front leader Minister P. Chandrasekaran has accused the CWC of treachery in agreeing for less than Rs. 500 which was their original demand.

He said that the C.W.C. had agreed to a payment of Rs 405 that includes basic salary of Rs 290, attendance payment of Rs 85 and an incentive of Rs 30. He said that his party and several other political parties and trade unions would continue to press for their original demand.

P. Chandrasekeran MP, President, Up-country Peoples Front, S. Sathasiwam, General Secretary, Ceylon Workers Alliance, R. Thigambaram, President, National Union of Workers, R. Chandrasekar MP, President, All Ceylon Estate Workers Union (JVP), P. Thambiah, President, Proletarian New Democratic Union and R. Muralitharan, Vice President, Democratic Workers Congress yesterday issued the following statement:

"We are deeply concerned with the proposed changes in the wage formula of the Collective Agreement which is to be signed in the coming few days. The goal of the amendment to the wage formula of the Collective Agreement is to safeguard the rights of the Plantation Labour Force which is the back bone of the Sri Lankan economy.

We are opposed to the proposed changes in the wage formula of the plantation workers for the following reasons:

 * The proposed basic wage of Rs.290 is extremely low to maintain a dignified minimum standard of living in the present economic condition;

 * The collective daily wage of Rs. 405 is not even guaranteed for the majority of the plantation workforce and is therefore not acceptable;

 * The proposed additional allowance Formula will not benefit the majority of the plantation workforce.

 * The Management to consider Rs 500 a day as the basic wage;

 * All concerned parties to postpone entering in to an amendment to the proposed Wage Formula of the Collective Agreement until consensus is reached among all Trade Unions;

 * Appeal to the Minister of Labour to refrain from signing and endorsing the amendment to the Wage Formula that is widely opposed by the majority of the  Plantation Workforce and Trade Unions;

 * We appeal to the Plantation Workforce to continue with the Non-Cooperation Movement which demanded a basic wage Rs. 500.