The Hindu Business Line : Port, dock workers seek wage revision every 5 years

Kochi, Jan. 5 The port and dock workers federations, which had served a strike notice to the Government demanding early wage settlement, have jointly appealed to the Shipping Minister to take a decision for five years periodicity of wage revision on or before January 7, which will be beneficial financially to the Port Trust Boards and the employees and workers of the all the major ports.

Mr T. Narendra Rao, General Secretary of the Water Transport Workers Federation of India, said hitherto, the Port and Dock workers wage settlements were for the period of four years, up to December 31, 1987 and according to the wage settlement in June 12, 1989, it was enhanced as 5 years and it was continued up to December 31, 1997.

10-year settlement

However, he alleged that only because of the anti-working class policies of the erstwhile government, a 10-year settlement was forced on the port and dock workers with effect from January 1, 1997.

Mr Rao pointed out that some of the central PSUs have already agreed in principle for 5 years period of wage settlement during their ongoing wage revision discussion with their trade unions.

On December 26, the Coal Ministry had also agreed for 5 years settlement with 100 per cent DA neutralisation for Coal India workers.

According to Mr Rao, there would not be any additional burden on the part of port managements by providing a five- year wage settlement as the number of employees in the port and dock sector has come down drastically in the last 10 years and the productivity level has increased considerably.

Due to the difference of opinion that erupted among the five major federations, two federations – All India Port and Dock Workers Federation and Hind Mazdoor Sabha – decided to stay away from the proposed nation-wide strike from January 7.

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