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Sudden! Indian ports announce indefinite nationwide general strike

Aug 16,2024

India's port industry is about to face a major crisis, the National Port Workers Coordinating Committee has announced,From August 28, workers at major Indian ports will start an indefinite strike., to protest the long-standing unresolved issue of adjustments to wages and allowances, including pensions. The decision was finalized after a two-day meeting at the VOC port in Tuticorin, which brought together the leaders of a number of unions, including the All India Port and Dock Workers Federation, the Indian Waterway Workers Federation, and others.

As the date of the strike approaches, the atmosphere of industrial relations in India's key ports has reached a critical point. The union leaders stressed that there has never been any substantive negotiations between the Labor Department and the trade union federation over the past five years, in sharp contrast to the past practice of holding meetings every three months to resolve issues. They warned,The "lazy attitude" of the Ministry of Transport has not only increased the unease of port workers, but may also cause major disruptions to port operations across the country.

The members of the National Coordinating Committee unanimously decided to take industrial action, including strikes, across the country from August 28 to force the government to face up to and address the legitimate demands of workers. It 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 the normal operation order of the port.

The strike not only reflects the urgent needs of Indian port workers for wages and benefits, but also highlights the increasingly tense labor relations between the government and workers. analysts pointed out that if the government fails to take effective measures to resolve this dispute,It is expected that the nationwide strike action will have a significant impact on the operation of Indian ports, will disrupt the flow of import and export goods and affect the overall economy.The logistics giant has also issued a warning that the upcoming strike could severely disrupt the movement of goods, causing delays, increased costs and congestion.

The workers' dissatisfaction stems from the fact that the last wage agreement expired on December 31, 2021, but has not yet received a new adjustment plan. Although the Ministry of Shipping established the Bilateral Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) in March 2021, after 31 months and 7 meetings of lengthy negotiations, the two sides still failed to reach an agreement. The union leaders accused the "illogical and illegal guidelines" put forward by the shipping ministry of seriously hampering the negotiation process and making a sharp departure from previous settlements.

The strike's core demands include wage changes, assembly benefits, protection of existing benefits, implementation of previous settlements, cancellation of allowances (DA) and payment of arrears. It is particularly noteworthy that the workers also strongly demand that the pension benefits effective from January 2022 be guaranteed, because the validity period of the last settlement has ended.

In addition, unions have expressed dissatisfaction with the delayed payment of productivity-linked incentives (PLRs). The award is normally handed out during the annual festive period, but the failure of the Ministry of Shipping to approve a statutory settlement under the new Major Port Authorities Act 2021 has led to the payment of the bonus being delayed. The union argued that the delay had further fuelled worker discontent.

In the face of the upcoming strike wave, the Indian government and relevant departments need to act quickly and conduct sincere dialogue and consultation with the trade unions to find a mutually acceptable solution. Only in this way can we ensure the stable operation of Indian ports and the sustainable development of economy.

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