Port workers call off strike

After the Indian Ports Association (IPA) agreed to the wage-related demands of the Port and Dock Workers Federation, the proposed strike was called off.

The unions wanted the management of the 12 ports to grant 23 per cent fitment amount to port and dock workers with effect from January 1, 2007, whereas IPA, which represented the major ports of the country, was offering fitment with effect from January 1, 2009. As part of the agreement reached between both the parties, IPA agreed to pay House Rent Allowance (HRA) from January 1, 2007. It was agreed that all other allowances would be paid with effect from January 1, 2008.

"This is the best-ever settlement as the port and dock workers for the first time will have the best of both worlds as they will get the combined benefits of public sector undertakings and central pay scales. In fact, they would be drawing more salaries that their counterparts in the central government. Even their arrears for three years, would range between Rs.60,000 and Rs.2.5 lakhs,'' said Mohan Aswani, additional general secretary of Indian national port and dock workers federation (INTUC) and president Kandla Port karamchari sangh to a Mumbai newspaper. He added this could become possible at the last minute intervention of both the shipping ministry and shipping secretary.

(Source: Maritime Gateway)