November 22, 2008

New Mangalore Port workers to join nationwide strike

BL reported that 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 16th 2008.

Mr Ramachandra Gowda joint secretary of All India Port & Dock Workers’ Federation said that the representatives of the 5 recognized federations of port and dock workers, who met in Mumbai on June 26th 2008, 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.

He said that "The management of Indian Ports Association had agreed in the meeting with the recognized federations to extend benefits of the amendment made by the central government in the Bonus Act liberalizing the eligibility limit and definition of pay for calculation of bonus to port and dock workers." He added that the shipping ministry has not taken any decision in this matter even after 6 months.

Mr Gowda said that several other issues such as merger of 50% of dearness allowance with basic pay with effect from January 1st 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.

It may be noted that, on March 29th 2008, Bipartite Wage Negotiating Committee took a decision to pay 13.5% of the basic pay as interim relief to port and dock workers with effect from January 1st 2007. Though this was submitted to the ministry in April 2008 for its approval, it is still pending with the ministry.