The Hindu Business Line : Cochin Port Trust sees slowdown in operations

The operations at the container terminal of the Cochin Port Trust have been slowed down since Monday following a protest by a section of workers against the introduction of 24x7 working hours from July 1.

Sources in the shipping fraternity said that the “go slow” currently experienced in the terminal had resulted in low productivity in the terminal which was now in the range of 55-60 moves per shift against 80-200 achieved last week.

They pointed out that the container vessel Orient Express, which arrived in the terminal on July 3 with 582 boxes for unloading and another 484 to load, is still in the berth. There was no other container vessel in the terminal during the period and also 4 gantry cranes was available to complete the operations in just 24 hours.

It is pointed out that prime movers, stacker operators, greasers employed in the terminal are adopting a go slow, which is affecting all operations in the terminal. However, no recognised trade unions in the port had taken the responsibility of the ‘go slow’ and they even denied of any such actions by workers.

Leaders of recognised trade unions when contacted alleged that these sorts of actions were the handiwork of a limited section of workers of un-recognised trade unions to sabotage the newly introduced system in the port. As these workers have the capability to disrupt the work, the Union leaders demanded strong action from the port management for the smooth implementation of round the clock operations.

Admitting that there is a slow-down in the terminal, senior officials at the India Gateway Terminal said that such activities are resorted to by a section of the staff employed by the port in the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal. They are protesting against the new system with the port put in place 24 hours with staggered off days.

Senior port officials said the management had suspended five employees working in the container terminal on Thursday for creating a go-slow in the terminal to sabotage the policy taken by the management towards increasing the efficiency of the port.

The officials pointed out that the management had discussed the matter with all the trade unions before implementing the new system and they even signed the papers prior to the introduction of 24X7 work.

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