The indefinite strike announced by port and dock workers from March 16 against corporatisation of major ports has been called off.

A decision to this effect was taken after the Shipping Ministry gave an assurance in writing that the apprehensions of the unions would be addressed and discussed.

While four of the five major federations of port and dock workers supported the proposal to withdraw the strike, the CITU federation expressed dissent.

Earlier, the Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari had assured the union leaders that no major port would be privatised, and that corporatisation would be carried out only after addressing the apprehensions of the workers.

The Minister during the discussions in New Delhi had assured the trade union representatives that no port would be privatised upon corporatisation and there would be any change in the terms and conditions of the service of the present employees. 

According to P.M.Mohammed Haneef, General Secretary, All India Port and Dock Workers Federation, that there was a confusion in the case of pensioners and the Ministry also clarified that the benefits of pensioners would be protected.   

It has also been decided that there will be a 10-member committee formed with five representatives from the government and five from the federations to settle the apprehensions related to wages and prior issues of the port workers, which have remained unresolved so far.

Related Topics