The All-India Port Workers’ Federation (AIPWF), affiliated to All-India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), has withdrawn its indefinite strike at New Mangalore Port and decided to report for duty on Thursday.

A press release by AICCTU said here late Wednesday evening that 19 companies of stevedores, clearing and forwarding agents, and shipping firms in Mangaluru had acceded to the demands of AICCTU.

Some drivers, who are members of AIPWF, began the strike on January 29.

Conciliation process

The Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) had conducted the conciliation process. Releasing the minutes of the conciliation meeting to the media, AICCTU said the meeting agreed upon the strict implementation of applicable labour laws and statutory provisions, and to follow rules and regulations.

The meeting gave a timeframe of 60 days to study the existing salary structures and to take suitable decision on the matter.

It said the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) advised the management of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) to issue instructions to all agencies and companies working in the port to strictly comply with all laws concerning the welfare, wages and other statutory requirements in respect of the workers employed by them.

Now it is the turn of the company managements and NMPT to see to it that the assurances of the employers and NMPT are fulfilled by ensuring implementation of all applicable labour laws and by entering into three-year memorandum of settlement, the release said.

“No doubt, NMPT and the employers used every trick in the book to break the unity of the workers by filing false cases, issuing notices to workers, calling them up and threatening them, etc,” it added.

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