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Kochi, June 9 Port and dock workers in the country are preparing themselves for industrial action against non-implementation of the agreed decisions between managements of the major ports and the five major federations on various issues in the port sector.

Mr S.R. Kulkarni, President of the All-India Port and Dock Workers Federation, in a letter to the Shipping Minister, pointed out that the workers had averted a strike in September last year following the intervention of the Minister who had constituted a committee under the Chairmanship of Mr R.K. Jain, Managing Director of Indian Ports Association, to make its recommendations on various issues.

Though the committee had submitted its report to the Ministry, officials in the Shipping Department did not share the recommendations with the five major federations, Mr Kulkarni said.

He requested the immediate intervention of the Minister on the issues, as unrest is mounting amongst workers over the delay in non-implementation of issues of mutual understanding.

The issues on which understanding was reached with the Indian Ports Association (IPA) are: payment of enhanced amount of prime lending rate as arrears as agreed consequent to amendments to the Payment of Bonus Act; payment of interim relief as agreed between the five federations and the IPA; merger of dearness allowance in basic pay with effect from January 1, 2006; discussion and decision on filling vacancies in the various categories of port and dock workers, including promotion posts; implementation of the report of the committee on cadre restructuring; IPA recommendation on liberalised medical benefits to retired employees at all the major ports.

Mr Kulkarni also urged the Minister to call a joint meeting of the recognised federations and the IPA to get the agreed decisions implemented by the Ministry without any further delay.

He pointed out that port and dock workers had extended un-stinted support in improving the efficiency of the working of major ports and maintained industrial peace and harmony despite lethargic and bureaucratic approach of the officers in the Shipping Ministry.

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