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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lkdood" data-source="post: 10300690" data-attributes="member: 92282">A major crisis looms on the plantation sector as workers in some  estates had begun to refuse loading tea to vehicles demanding a wage  hike.      All Ceylon Estate Workers Union President Ramalingam Chandrasekar told  the Daily Mirror that some estate labourers in a few estates had begun  to refrain from loading tea onto trucks demanding a wage hike. He said  the workers have begun this action on their own without the influence  of  trade unions.      Mr. Ramalingam said trade union action might be imminent if the wage issue was not resolved soon.      He charged that employers were dragging their feet on negotiations with  the trade union representatives who were signatories of the collective  agreement.      He said his union and several others would meet on Sunday to decide on a new course of action.      Up Country Workers Union Leader S. Sathasivam also confirmed that some  workers had begun a limited action in few estates in the hills.      The UNP led Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union which is a signatory to  the collective agreement also said it would be compelled to resort to  trade union action if the negotiations dragged on without a settlement.      However the CWC which is the biggest and most powerful trade union is  keeping mum about the issue though it initially warned of action if a  sizeable wage hike was not agreed upon. Senior CWC member and Deputy  Minister Muttu Sivalingam when contacted by us, declined to disclose any  information on the issue, but said the negotiations were continuing.      The latest round of talks between the trade unions and the employers  took place on Wednesday when the employers came out with a fresh deal  only to be rejected by the unions.      Employers are of the opinion that they cannot afford to give a sizeable  wage hike as their profits had declined. The Daily Mirror learns that  only 11 of 31 companies who were signatories of the collective agreement  are making a profit. Besides the tea prices were on the decline as a  result of the Libyan crisis. Libya is said to be one of the biggest  buyers of Sri Lankan tea according to the latest market indicators.  </blockquote>

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