The Hindu Business Line : Port, dock workers withdraw strike call

At a glance
Payment of one-time lump-sum adjustable advance, which will be calculated at 13.5 per cent of the existing basic pay as on January 1, 2007 (before DA merger) with effect from January 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.
The amount will range between Rs 8,999 and Rs 29,099.

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New Delhi/Kochi, July 15 The indefinite strike of port and dock workers that would have kicked off at all major ports from Tuesday midnight has been averted with the Union Ministry for Shipping accepting three key demands of the port and dock workers.

Pay scales

The Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr T.R. Baalu, announced the merger of 50 per cent dearness allowance (DA) with basic pay with effect from January 1, 2007 for the workers, at a conference in Tuticorin port on Tuesday. This would be in line with the guidelines issued earlier this year by the Department of Public Enterprises.

He also assured that the issue may be further reviewed in case the Government changes its policy favourably in the future with regard to the date of effect of 50 per cent DA merger with the basic pay for organisations with industrial dearness allowance pattern of pay. The Minister also announced payment of one-time lump-sum adjustable advance, which will be calculated at 13.5 per cent of the existing basic pay as on January 1, 2007 (before DA merger) with effect from January 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. The amount will range between Rs 8,999 and Rs 29,099.

Wage settlement

The amount would be paid within one month from the date of settlement and would be adjusted at the time of disbursement of arrears of pay and allowances arising out of next long-term wage settlement, due from January 1, 2007, according to an official release.

Mr Baalu also announced that the standard wages for computation of PLR shall be raised to Rs 3,500 a month with effect from April 1, 2006 from the current level of Rs 2,500 a month, according to the provisions contained in the PLR settlement dated April 10, 2007.

The orders in this regard would be obtained and issued as early as possible, the Minister assured.

Settlement signed

The five workers federations and Indian Ports Association signed a statutory settlement in Delhi on Tuesday.

The federations include All India Port and Dock Workers Federation; All India Port and Dock Workers Federation (Workers); Water Transport Federation of India; Port, Dock and Waterfront Workers’ of India; and Indian National Port and Dock Workers’ Federation.

Five federations of port and dock workers had decided to serve a notice on Tuesday for a nationwide strike at all major ports on July 16, as the Government has not given formal approval to pending employee-related issues.

The Minister was presiding over a function in Tuticorin wherein the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr M. Karunanidhi, had dedicated the 9th cargo berth of the Tuticorin Port Trust to the nation through video conferencing facility. This berth has been created at a cost of Rs 40 crore. The Minister said the country’s major ports have handled 519.16 million tonnes during 2007-08, which is about 11.94 per cent higher than that of 2006-07, and 50 per cent more than that of 2003-04.

About 20,876 vessels were handled in the major ports which is 6.35 per cent more than the previous year.