New Wage structure for Port and Dock workers

Shri G.K. Vasan, the Union Minister of Shipping took initiative to break the impasse in the negotiations between the recognized Federations and Indian Ports Association (IPA) which averted the impending strike, signalling a great sigh of relief to the maritime community.

A Bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) consisting of representatives of Management and the Federations of Port and Dock workers was earlier constituted by Ministry of Shipping in January 2007. The BWNC held about 20 meetings on wage related matters of Port & Dock employees/workers. During negotiations, while Management, inter alia had offered a fitment benefit of 18% of Pay plus Dearness Pay plus Dearness Allowance, the Unions were insisting on fitment benefit of 34%. Being dissatisfied with management offer, the Unions had threatened to go on strike on or after 15.9.2009.

The Minister of Shipping intervened in the matter and held a meeting yesterday to discuss the matter with the Trade Unions, Ministry officials and IPA. After having extensive day long discussions, the impasse was broken when the Minister offered a fitment benefit of 23% to the Federations.

The Federations expressed their happiness and thanked the Minister, the Minister of State, Ministry officials and IPA for showing the pragmatism in resolving this important matter.

Port and Dock Workers To Go For Action If Settlement Delayed

All the major five workers’ federations affiliated to HMS, CITU, AITUC and INTUC, representing overwhelming majority of the Port & Dock workers all over the country expressed anguish over the extreme delay and non-settlement of wage-revision of the workers owing to negative attitude of the Port & Dock management.
In a joint letter issued to Shri G K Vasan, Minister of Shipping, Govt of India on 12th August 2009 the Federations urged upon urgent intervention to ensure a favourable settlement within two weeks time, failing which the federations will be compelled to resort to direct action including indefinite strike in all the ports and dock of the country.
The letter to minister was jointly signed by
M K Pandhe (CITU)
S R Kulkarni (HMS)
S K Shetye (HMS)
VKB (AITUC) and
C Kalan (INTUC)

Text of the Federations letter is given below
Dear Shri Vasan,
We are extremely sorry to note that despite of more than 2.5 years after the expiry of the agreement and 19 meetings of the BWNC, the wage negotiations in Ports and Docks for wage settlement could not be arrived at. This is causing strong resentment amongst the workers. The Bi-partite Wage Negotiation Committee meeting held on 12 August 09 also failed to resolve the crisis.
We wish to note that the Govt. should intervene into the matter for a favourable settlement within two weeks, failing which the trade Unions will be left with no other option but to resort to direct action including indefinite strike in all the Ports. We hope you will appreciate the gravity of the situation and ensure that long pending settlement is arrived at without any further delay.

Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
HMS
CITU
AITUC
INTUC

Source: CITU Centre