The Hindu Business Line : Haldia dock unions threaten stir on contracts for berths

Kolkata, April 16 Four unions controlling employees and workers of Haldia dock and all affiliated to central trade unions, namely, CITU, INTUC, AITUC and HMS, and the dock’s officers’ forum affiliated to All India Major Port & Dock Officers’ Federation, have threatened to go on strike unless the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) management immediately reverses its decision to equip 2 and 8 berths of the dock as planned.

The unions, all under the banner of Haldia Dock Bachao Committee (Save Haldia Dock Committee), have jointly submitted a memorandum to KoPT Chairman in this regard. The unions are Calcutta Port & Shore Mazdoor Union (CITU), Calcutta Port Sramik Union (HMS), National Union of Waterfront Workers (Intuc), Haldia Port & Dock Employees Association (AITUC) and Haldia Dock Officers’ Forum (AIMPDOF).

Unions’ concerns

The memorandum lists as many as a dozen points in support of their concern that equipping the berths as planned will not be in the best interest of either the dock or its employees and workers.

For example, under the proposed arrangement, all onboard operations will be undertaken by contractor’s labour and not by the dock’s own workers.

This will mean abandoning a practice which has been in force since 1977. Since there is no dock labour board at Haldia, the onboard operation is now undertaken by the dock’s own workers.

It also draws attention to breakdown of several critical equipment of the dock, with no apparent urgency to put them back on rails at the earliest.

The memorandum wonders if the KoPT management, in the name of improving productivity of the two berths through mechanisation, isn’t opting for an arrangement (with participation of a private player) which will entail systematic destruction of the port’s own existing infrastructure and enrichment of a private firm’s coffers at the cost of the port.

CVC letter

It also refers to the Central Vigilance Commission’s letter to Chief Vigilance Officer of the port suggesting that the issue of awarding contracts for 2 and 8 berths of Haldia may be brought again to the notice of the tender committee in view of objections from Haldia Dock Bachao Committee, the Additional Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal, and a Marxist Member of the Lok Sabha.

Meanwhile, the firm that has emerged L1 (the lowest bidder) for the Haldia job is understood to have written to all members of the Board of Trustees of KoPT with the appeal to facilitate the smooth passage of the resolution relating to the award of the contract to it.

The resolution is likely to be placed before the board at a future meeting.

The appeal, according to Mr Ramakanta Burman, Convenor of Haldia Dock Bachao Committee, should be treated as canvassing for the contract, which, under clause 4.3 of the tender document, was not only prohibited but should also result in cancellation of the firm concerned.

Also, under the Election Commission’s present code of conduct, KoPT board could not take any decision now on awarding a contract whose value would run into several crores, he said.

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