The Hindu Business Line : `Go-slow' at Kochi port box terminal to hit performance

THE gantry berth at Kochi port is reportedly experiencing a `go slow' in the past few weeks affecting the productivity of vessels as well as the performance of the port, particularly in the closing days of the current fiscal.

The reason for the `go slow' in the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal, according to sources in the shipping circles, is the agitation resorted to by the gantry operators protesting against the enhancement of productivity-linked incentives to the trailer operators employedin the wharf.

It is pointed out that the port had increased the incentives to Rs 6 per TEU from the present Rs 3 for trailer drivers after handling more than 80 TEUs as base mark. However, the authorities had declined to provide any sort of enhancement to gantry operators forcing them to start a `go slow' movement in the terminal.

Sources in the port said that the strike had slowed down productivity of the terminal and the performance has come down marginally in the last few weeks. As against an average of 80 moves per shift, it has reduced to 30-35 moves per shift.

Being the last month of the current fiscal, an agitation would definitely affect the performance of both the port as well as the vessel operators, a shipping company official said. The movement of coffee from neighbouring centres had picked up recently on account of season and the `go slow' agitation would definitely affect the credibility of operators in meeting their commitments to principals. If this were allowed to continue, the vessels would begin shut out sailing from Kochi without carrying export containers, he added.

Admitting that there has been a slow down in the terminal, the Traffic Manager, Mr H.C.Venkatesh, said that the port had informed the trade unions to take immediate steps to ensure smooth operations in the terminal considering the ending of the financial year. No trade union had called for a strike on this issue and the problem would be sorted out soon, he said.

The Traffic Manager pointed out that the revision of productivity incentives is an ongoing process, which had started in 2002. It just concluded for the existing categories like trailer drivers. Now the port is in the process of introducing new incentives for gantry operators, RTG operators, maintenance staff, clerical staff and dockworkers among others before the handing over of the terminal to Dubai Port International. The port had even asked the unions to give a proposal to meet the demands of the workers.

"When the management is in the process of discussing and concluding a new scheme for other category of employees, it is not proper on their part to start an agitation", Mr Venkatesh said.

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