The Hindu Business Line : Port workers in Mangalore to join nationwide strike

Mangalore, July 2 Port and dock workers in New Mangalore will join the nationwide indefinite strike of port and dock workers, which is scheduled to begin on July 16.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr Ramachandra Gowda, Joint Secretary of the All-India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation, said the representatives of the five recognised federations of port and dock workers, who met in Mumbai on June 26, have decided to serve a notice of strike on the port authorities concerned seeking the implementation of understanding reached at the level of Bipartite Wage Negotiating Committee (BWNC).

The management of Indian Ports Association had agreed in the meeting with the recognised federations on December 3, to extend benefits of the amendment made by the Central Government in the Bonus Act liberalising the eligibility limit and definition of pay for calculation of bonus to port and dock workers. The Shipping Ministry has not taken any decision in this matter even after six months, he said.

On March 29, BWNC took a decision to pay 13.5 per cent of the basic pay as interim relief to port and dock workers with effect from January 1, 2007. Though this was submitted to the Ministry in April for its approval, it is still pending with the Ministry, Mr Gowda said.

Several other issues such as merger of 50 per cent of dearness allowance with basic pay with effect from January 1, 2005; filling up of vacant posts; and implementation of Consensus Report of the sub-committee constituted by the Ministry to look into the grievances of the federations on the cadre restructuring report of the officers are also pending with the Ministry for several months, he said.

The joint action committee in New Mangalore Port Trust served a strike notice to the management on July 1, he added.

Mr K. Sadashiva Shetty, General Secretary of Kanara Stevedoring Workers’ Union, was present on the occasion.

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