Kochi container-trailer owners put off strike

The proposed strike by container trailer operators at the Kochi port has been put off for 15 days following the intervention of the State Government.

The State Government has constituted a sub committee, headed by the Port Trust Chairman, comprising representatives of trade and industry, container-trailer owners, police, transport authority and the public works department to look into the issues raised by the Cochin Container Carrier Owners Welfare Association, which had threatened an indefinite strike.

An official in the Welfare Association said that the strike had been put off for 15 days following the formation of the committee. The committee was formed after representatives of container carrier owners met the Chief Minister in the State capital.

The container carrier owners had threatened to withdraw their services indefinitely to protest against what they alleged was harassment by the transport authority under the Motor Vehicles Department.

They pointed out that trailers were being fined heavily allegedly for carrying parcels beyond the permitted levels.

The postponement of the strike comes as a breather for the trading community and the port users as it could have paralysed the entire cargo movement to and from the port.

The container carrier owners are positive that the committee would address all the issues raised by them and would arrive at an acceptable solution.

Trade bodies and chamber of commerce and industry had called on the Government to intervene in the matter in view of the growing importance of the transhipment terminal.

COMMENT NOW