The Hindu Business Line : Kochi Port unions defer strike plan

THE proposed indefinite strike by trade unions at Kochi Port from Wednesday has been deferred after the port management agreed that a final decision on the handing over of Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT) will be taken only after reaching an agreement with the trade unions.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting on Tuesday night held between the leaders of the Kochi Port Protection Committee comprising seven trade unions and the port management before the Regional Labour Commissioner Officer (Central). During the discussions, the unions expressed apprehensions that the move of the management to hand over RGCT to private bidders will be detrimental to the interests of the workers as well as that of the port in general. As per the understanding reached, the RFP (request for proposal) now published by the port in connection with the bid process of Kochi International Container Transhipment Terminal is a draft one and not a final RFP, and final decision would be taken only after further process of the issue by the authorities and subsequent approval by the Port Trust Board.

It is further agreed by the management that they should discuss the proposal to hand over RGCT to the successful bidder of the ICTT project for operation and related matters, with the trade unions which have served strike notices and arrive at a mutually agreed settlement, prior to formulating final decisions on the subject matter. Meanwhile, the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the move to privatise the RGCT.

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