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Outburst! India ports announced: indefinite general strike across the country
2024-08-16 09:24
India's port industry is on the verge of a major crisis, with the National Coordinating Council of Port Workers announcing that workers at major ports in India will begin an indefinite strike from August 28 to protest long-pending wage and allowance adjustments, including pensions. The decision was finalized after a two-day meeting at the VOC port in Tuticorin, which brought together leaders from several trade unions, including the All India Federation of Port and Dock Workers, the India Federation of Water Transport Workers.
As strike dates approach, the industrial relations climate in India's major ports has reached a critical point. Trade union leaders stressed that there have never been any substantive negotiations between the Ministry of Labour and the trade union federation over the past five years, in contrast to the past practice of holding meetings every three months to resolve the issue. They warned that the "lazy attitude" of the Ministry of Transport not only exacerbated the unease of port workers, but could also cause significant disruption to port operations across the country.
The members of the National Coordinating Committee unanimously decided to take industrial action, including strikes, nationwide, from 28 August in order to compel the government to face up to and address the legitimate demands of the workers. He also called on the government to intervene in the negotiations as soon as possible to ensure that workers' wages and allowances are reasonably adjusted, and to restore normal operation order at the port.
The strike not only reflects the urgent need for wages and benefits from India's port workers, but also highlights the growing tensions between the government and workers. Analysts point out that if the government fails to take effective measures to resolve the dispute, it is expected that the nationwide strike action will have a significant impact on India's port operations, disrupting the flow of imported and exported goods and affecting the overall economy. The logistics giant has also issued a warning that the upcoming strike could seriously disrupt the movement of goods, leading to delays, increased costs and congestion.
The workers' dissatisfaction stems from the fact that the last wage agreement, which expired on December 31, 2021, has yet to receive a new adjustment package. Despite the establishment of the Bilateral Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) by the Ministry of Shipping in March 2021, after 31 months and lengthy negotiations of seven meetings, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement. Trade union leaders have accused the shipping ministry of proposing "illogical and illegal guidelines" that have seriously hampered the negotiation process and are a departure from previous settlements.
The core demands of the strike include revising wage rates, fitting benefits, protecting existing benefits, enforcing the previous settlement, canceling allowances (DAs), and paying arrears. Of particular note is the fact that workers are also strongly demanding that the pension benefits that have been in effect since January 2022 be guaranteed, as the validity period of the previous settlement has ended.
In addition, unions have expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in the payment of productivity-linked incentives (PLRs). This award is usually given out during the annual festive season, but the award was delayed due to the Department of Shipping's failure to approve a statutory settlement under the new Major Port Authorities Act 2021. The unions believe that this delay has further exacerbated workers' discontent.
In the face of the impending wave of strikes, the India government and relevant departments need to act quickly and engage in sincere dialogue and consultation with trade unions to find a mutually acceptable solution. Only in this way can the stable operation of India's ports and the sustainable development of the economy be ensured.
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