The shipping industry is facing a fresh round of disruption, as Grade-III and IV employees of government-run ports brace for an indefinite strike, starting today morning. On the face of it, workers across ports are protesting because the central government, which operates ports and pays for their salaries, have failed to sign a new five-year wage revision agreement after the old pact expired over two and half years ago.
Around 18,000 port employees – affiliated to multiple unions – and working at 12 major ports have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from 06:00 hours Indian Standard Time (IST) from Wednesday (August 28) after negotiations failed between employers, the government, and the unions over pay and pension reforms. Talks were on for the past three-odd years.
All-India Ports and Dock Workers’ Federation that represents employees working at Deendayal (Kandla), Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), Mormugao, New Mangalore, Kochi, Ennore (Kamarajar), Chennai, VOC Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, V. O. Chidambaranar Port and Kolkata (including Haldia) Port are planning to cease work indefinitely.
he Indian Ports Association (IPA), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), has been negotiating with the representatives of port workers’ unions since Monday (August 26) to dissuade them from going on an indefinite strike.
So far, the negotiations have failed to break the impasse.
The MoPSW recognises five federations, including the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation; All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation (workers); Water Transport Workers’ Federation of India; Indian National Port and Dock Workers’ Federation; and Port, Dock and Waterfront Workers’ Federation of India. The current wage structure of 23,193 Grade-III and IV workers at major ports had expired at the end of December 2021.
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