No end in sight to Indian port stir

A week-long strike by private sector workers serving Kochi Port continued with a round of talks to settle the strike ending without resolving issues raised by the workers, reported The Hindu.


A statement issued by the Port Trust said: “Although the port trust management made all sincere efforts to resolve the problems of those who would be losing their employment as a direct result of implementation of the ICTT, the unfortunate insistence on the part of the concerned unions demanding the continued operation of RGCT and the resumption of the turn system for trucks, the talks could not progress.”


Movement of bulk goods and containers in and out of the port premises is at a standstill since last Tuesday.


Discussions on Monday were attended by senior official of Cochin Port Trust and leaders of trade unions as the strike took a curious turn with a new demand for a turn system for getting lorry services at the port premises.


The strike had started with allegations that there would be massive job losses after the new international container transhipment terminal is inaugurated later this week.


Talks to end the strike broke down as an entirely new demand was raised at the meeting on Monday, sources said.


The statement from the port trust said that until few years back there existed a turn system in the port for booking of container trailers and lorries.


According to this system, the customers have no freedom to hire trucks through competition and negotiation and they were forced to hire vehicles in turn at prices dictated by interested parties. Considering the dangers of its misuse, the High Court of Kerala had intervened to stop this system.


The Cochin Port Trust had with great difficulty, carried out an operation to stop the illegal collection of money at that time.
It has been made very clear that the port trust will not, under any circumstances, approve of such a retrograde system.


Moreover, such a step would also be violation of the High Court Order, the statement added.


The new demand for a turn system was raised as trade and business in the city objected to introduction of a turn system for trailer lorry services, sources said.


The port authorities have been explaining its position to the striking employees. The Port Trust Chairman N. Ramachandran said that the port authorities were not able to address the issues raised by the private sector workers because the port trust was not their principal employer.


He told reporters that the port authorities did not wish to ditch anyone as the new international container transhipment terminal went on stream.
(Source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com)