Major port workers’ unions plan to go on an indefinite strike at 12 major Indian ports on or after 30 May to protest against a pay dispute, according to the general secretary of the Water Transport Workers’ Federation of India.

T Narendra Rao told The Hindu Business Line that the national co-ordination committee of six federations of major port workers also decided to call for a nationwide, one-day protest strike on 28 May.

The strike planned for 28 May is, according to Mr Rao, in relation to the “the casual attitude of the Ministry of Shipping and Indian Ports Association (IPA) in settling the demands of the port workers for revising the existing wage structure and other service conditions, including pensionary benefits, with effect from January 2017, consequent to the expiry of the existing wage settlement”.

Neglected assurances

The Hindu Business Line reported that Mr Rao said IPA’s management and the Indian government have “neglected repeated assurances given to the workers’ federations including amending the Major Port Authorities Bill and recognition of trade unions based on the recommendations of the parliamentary standing committee”.

Mr Rao reportedly added: “The IPA has also assured implementation of various statutory settlements, but so far none of the demands have been settled. The federations have been also demanding equal payment to contract workers performing similar nature of jobs and their regularisation.”

(From PORT STRAEGY: Inside for port executives)