In September 2015, thousands of women tea pickers went on strike at one of India’s biggest tea producers.
They had picked more tea than ever that year but were furious that wages remained low and managers were proposing to cut their bonus.
Their action was unprecedented, with the low-caste women protesting in the streets for nine days, against both the multinational company employing them and their union.
Their sit-in ended only after the government intervened and the women’s demands were met.
Jacqueline Paine speaks to Rajeshwary, one of the leaders of the group that organised the direct action.
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(Photo: Tea picker strike in Munnar. Credit: Countercurrents.org)
