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Staff Reporter, The Hindu

Monday, Sep 08, 2008
 

ALAPPUZHA: A continuing standoff between houseboat owners and employees over wages has literally paralysed the houseboat industry here for the last three days.

The issue began with the 1,800 odd employees, working on over 600 houseboats, demanding a hike in the wages after the two-year contract expired in August. From the current wages of Rs.2,500 a month and a daily allowance of Rs.100, the employees wanted a monthly wage Rs.4,000 and a daily allowance of Rs.200.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090855720600.htm

Staff Reporter, The Hindu

Monday, Sep 08, 2008
 

ALAPPUZHA: A continuing standoff between houseboat owners and employees over wages has literally paralysed the houseboat industry here for the last three days.

The issue began with the 1,800 odd employees, working on over 600 houseboats, demanding a hike in the wages after the two-year contract expired in August. From the current wages of Rs.2,500 a month and a daily allowance of Rs.100, the employees wanted a monthly wage Rs.4,000 and a daily allowance of Rs.200.

Even after several rounds of talks between the employees unions and the three associations representing the houseboat owners, a solution remained elusive even on Sunday. While a section of owners agreed for a partial rise — a monthly salary of Rs.3,500 and an allowance of Rs.125 a day — others refused to give in. This led to a majority of the employees keeping off work and refusing to take tourists out on cruises. The few who turned up for work were those working on the houseboats, the owners of which had agreed for the partial hike.

On Friday and Saturday, there were several instances of tourists being stopped from boarding the houseboats. There were also a few instances when tourists were left alone on the houseboats right in the middle of the Vembanad Lake as the striking employees prevented others from working. There were also instances of houseboat owners, who were reluctant to agree to the hike, preventing other owners from operating their boats.

A high-ranking Indian Air Force official who came with family was among those who bore the brunt of the strike, being forced to wait for hours as the warring factions negotiated with each other. The stalemate, which has turned out to be an ugly blot on the tourist town’s record, has prompted the district administration to intervene. A conciliatory talk with the District Labour Officer as mediator will be held from 10 a.m. on Monday, while District Collector V.K. Balakrishnan is expected to hold another round of talks from 4 p.m., if necessary