Message of Greetings and Solidarity on the occasion of International Tea Day Celebrations on 15^th December 2007 

The Sri Lankan Tea Committee on behalf of Trade Unions, Civil Society Movements and the tea workers of Sri Lanka is pleased to send this message of greetings and solidarity on the occasion of the 3^rd International Tea Day, to the Tea workers, Trade Unions and Civil Movements through the CEC, New Delhi. Since the negative impact of globalisation, neo liberal economic polices have affected the conditions of service of the workers and their livelihood resulting in global tea crisis, the Lonawella Declaration in 2004 called for international solidarity and declared that International Tea Day shall be observed to highlight the problems of tea workers, and their demands by forming an international tea network.

 We cherish the memory of the 1^st international tea day celebrations in New Delhi, and the New Delhi Declaration on 15^th December 2005 and we are able to go forward to mark the 3^rd International Tea Day in Sri Lanka, India and other tea producing countries and further strengthen the international tea network and solidarity.

 We observe the tea day in plantations and regional centers of Sri Lanka, while the main celebration will take place in Badulla Sri Lanka on the 15^th of December 2007.  Preceding this Meeting, we will be holding a tea conference on the 14^th December 2007 to study the developments since the previous International Tea Day in 2006. Since the high cost of living, rising prices, depreciating currency the real value of wages has fallen while monetarily there was an increase in 2006 and 2007. The employers are thwarting the tea crisis, by leashing, sub leasing, introducing contract, sub contract, outsourcing, and out grower systems and systematically replacing permanent workers with casual, seasonal and contract workers and denying the legal dues.  

Our campaigns for a living wage, decent working and living conditions, modern housing with land rights without the direct control of  the managing agencies, and the implementation of the 10 year Plan of social development of plantation workers with the collaboration of UN Agency –UNDP continue to gather with momentum. We have also made representations to the government of Sri Lanka through the Ministers of Plantation Industry and the Export Promotion on the importance of the commodity agreement on tea and there would be further discussions in 2008.

 The economic crisis faced by the tea workers and the ethnic conflict as well as the war has affected the workers in various spheres of life. In this cenario our struggle continues. 

On the occasion of the 3^rd International Tea Day we express our solidarity on behalf of the Sri Lankan tea plantation workers and small growers to the tea worker and small growers in their struggle in various tea producing countries for living wage, decent living, working conditions and fair price for tea.

 On the occasion of the 3^rd International Tea Day we call upon the governments of tea producing countries, the United Nations, the ILO and other international agencies to adopt 15^th December as the International Tea Day to highlight the problems of the workers and small holders of tea seeking worldwide attention for a better world for tea workers.

 Long live International Tea Day and solidarity!

With greetings,

Mr. P.Muthuligan – Chairman, ISD, Kandy, Sri Lanka

On behalf of the Tea Committee representing the Trade Unions and Civil Society Movements