MAJOR port and dock workers federations have taken exception to the Shipping Ministry’s decision to appoint a Judicial Commission (JC), with effect from January 1, 2012, for revising wages and other related service conditions for workers.
Following a meeting in New Delhi recently, the federations have resolved to brace themselves to fight the development.
The government’s decision to form the commission, instead of settling the issue of wage revision through the Bipartite Wage Negotiating Committee (BWNC), went against normal practice, said Mr T. Narendra Rao, General Secretary of one of the federations. He pointed out that the Indian Ports’ Association had officially communicated to the federations on the issue only on September 5.
Apprising that the federations were opposing the government’s move as the decision was against the principle of collective bargaining, which has been in play in the port sector for several decades, Mr Rao contended that "this is nothing but an ill-motivated attempt to distract the trade union movement in the port and dock industry."
He disclosed that the port and dock workers have unanimously resolved to organise massive demonstrations at the Major Ports on September 29. "The federations have also made a plea to the Shipping Minister, Mr G. K. Vasan, to intervene in the matter by taking cognisance of the situation in the port industry and again constituting the BWNC," he said.
Source : Exim News Service - KOCHI, Sept. 11
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