The minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on August 28 said that port associations of 12 govt-run major ports calling off their planned indefinite strike is a testament of the work the central government is doing to ensure fair and equitable treatment of port workers.
"The timely resolution of these issues reflects MoPSWs commitment to foster a harmonious and productive working environment across all Indian ports," Sonowal said in a statement a day after an agreement was signed between representatives of workers' unions and ports management.
Around 18,000 port employees — affiliated to multiple unions — and working at 12 major ports had threatened to go on an indefinite strike from 06:00 hours Indian Standard Time (IST) on Wednesday (August 28) after negotiations failed between employers, the government, and the unions over pay and pension reforms. Talks were on for the past three years.
All-India Ports and Dock Workers’ Federation, which represents employees working at Deendayal (Kandla), Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), Mormugao, New Mangalore, Kochi, Ennore (Kamarajar), Chennai, VOC Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, V O Chidambaranar Port, and Kolkata (including Haldia) Port had planned to cease work indefinitely.
Key issues on the table included the revision of pay scales, fitment benefits, protection of existing benefits, implementation of previous settlements, neutralisation of dearness allowance (DA), and payment of arrears.
The strike had come at a time when India is looking to boost its international cargo handling capacity at its ports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for development of the Rs 76,200 crore greenfield all-weather deep-draft Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra on August 30.
However, the strike was called off after the unions signed an MoU with the bipartite wage negotiation committee of the central government on August 27.
“The nationwide indefinite strike called by six federations of port and dock workers from August 28 is deferred consequent on a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chairman of the IPA, the MD of IPA, and representatives of the six federations,” a joint statement said.
As part of the MoU, fitment benefit of 8.5 percent on the aggregate amount of basic pay as on December 31, 2021, plus 30 per cent VDA as on January 1, 2022, will be given.
Besides, a special allowance of Rs 500 per month will be given to the employees during the operative period of settlement from January 1, 2022 up to December 31, 2026 or up to the date of superannuation of the working employees, whichever is earlier.
A drafting committee will be constituted by the BWNC, which will meet to prepare a settlement within a period of 10 days. The committee will include one representative from each federation and management representatives as decided by the IPA Chairman.
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