The Hindu Business Line : Port workers seek 5-year term for wage settlement

Kochi March 27 The President of CITU, Dr M.K. Pandhe, has stated that the Water Transport Workers Federation of India will jointly press with other federations of port and dockworkers for a five-year wage settlement beginning from January 2007.

While coal workers could fight to get 5-year term for wage settlement, that too with D.A. to fully neutralise rise in cost of living, why should the port and dockworkers must accept anything less? he asked while inaugurating the 38th annual general body meeting of Cochin Port Labour Union here at Willingdon Island.

He also questioned the rationale of the Government's insistence for acceptance of a 10-year term for wage settlement by port and dockworkers.

According to Dr Pandhe, impressive economic growth of the last decade had benefited only about 38 per cent of the population. The workers' lot has worsened during the period. Even port trusts are resorting to contract and casual employment for permanent and regular jobs.

Cochin port project

Later in a resolution adopted at the meeting, the union requested the Kerala Government to participate in Cochin Port's project for building and operating a modern bulk cargo terminal so that the only major area of operation in the port that remains in public domain may not get privatised. It is pointed out that there are no sufficient equipment to handle bulk cargo in the wharves and proper warehouse for the storage of cargo.

Other resolution include support to the State Government in extending the Headload Workers' Scheme to the port area, against FCI's policy of demolishing the warehouses in Willingdon Island and withdrawing from public procurement and distribution, and the demand for building a cruise terminal at old Fort Kochi wharf.

If Fort Kochi Wharf can be developed as a cruise terminal, the existing two wharves in Willingdon Island can be used exclusively for cargo handling.

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