Views: 720 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-08-21 Origin: Site
Recently, major ports in India may experience major strikes!
Nationwide indefinite general strike
According to foreign media reports, dock workers at India's 12 largest ports have announced an indefinite strike starting from August 28th, as prolonged salary negotiations have failed to reach an agreement.
This could lead to disruptions in port operations and logistical delays across India by then.
The decision was finalised after a two day meeting at the V.O.C. port in Thoothukudi, where heads of various federations, including the All India Ports and Dock Workers‘ Federation, the Indian Water Transport Workers’ Federation, the National Union of Ports and Dock Workers of India and others, came together and discussed the course of action.
The members of the NCC unanimously decided to take industrial action, including a strike, nationwide from 28 August to compel the Government to face up to and address the legitimate demands of the workers. They 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 that normal operational order at the ports is restored.
The workers' discontent stems from the fact that the last wage agreement expired on 31 December 2021, but a new adjustment proposal has not yet been forthcoming. Although the Ministry of Shipping set up a Bilateral Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) in March 2021, the two sides have not been able to reach an agreement after 31 months and seven meetings of lengthy negotiations.
The union leaders accused the shipping ministry of presenting ‘illogical and illegal guidelines’ that seriously hampered the negotiation process and were a far cry from previous settlements.
The core demands of the strike include changes to wage rates, assembly benefits, protection of existing benefits, implementation of the previous settlement, cancellation of allowances (DA) and payment of arrears. Of particular note, the workers also strongly demanded that pension benefits, effective from January 2022, be safeguarded, as the validity of the previous settlement has expired.
In addition, the union has also expressed dissatisfaction over the delayed payment of the Productivity Linked Reward (PLR). This incentive is usually paid during the annual festive season, but the failure of the Ministry of Shipping to approve the statutory settlement under the new Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, has resulted in a delay in the payment of the bonus. According to the union, this delay has further fuelled the discontentment of the workers.
Union representatives have warned that the ‘lazy attitude’ of the Ministry of Transport has led to growing unrest among port workers and could disrupt port operations across the country.
The industrial relations climate in India's major ports has reached a tipping point as the strike nears.
The union leaders stressed that the situation had been deteriorating for the past five years and that there had never been any negotiations between the Ministry of Labour and the Federation of Trade Unions. This contrasts with the past, when meetings were held every three months to resolve issues.
Analysts point out that if the government fails to take effective measures to resolve this dispute, it is expected that nationwide strikes will have a significant impact on India's port operations, potentially disrupting the flow of imported and exported goods and affecting the overall economy.
Kuehne+Nagel, the world's largest freight forwarder, has warned that the upcoming strike could seriously disrupt the movement of goods, leading to delays, increased costs and congestion.
Container carriers warn of strike at Indian ports
In addition, recently, Indian container carriers also issued a warning that if negotiations with authorities fail to reach an agreement, they will start driving their vehicles off the road from Tuesday, August 20th, and warn container carriers of strikes at Indian ports! The state of Maharashtra, where it is located, has started a strike movement.
Transport workers intend to protest against the difficult conditions they have been facing. In a statement, the Association of Transporters mentioned that its members bear a wide range of charges levied on them, including container handling damage charges and parking fees.
Operators urged to demand the collection of fees from representatives of importers/exporters/shipping companies, to suspend the collection of motorway tolls and to refund the tolls to drivers.
The transporters also complained about the ‘deteriorating’ condition of the Mumbai-Gujarat/Gujarat-Nasik road, which had damaged their vehicles. It was also alleged that the police authorities had been levying fines against drivers and that their focus had shifted from enforcement to profit-making.
According to local sources, a meeting between transporters and authorities was planned for 16 and 17 August to avert a possible strike. If no agreement is reached during the meetings, the strike is expected to begin on 20 August.
While there is no limit on how long the suspension will last, operators say they will continue until their concerns are addressed.
Nhava Sheva Port, also known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port is India's largest container port and handles about 50 per cent of the country's containerised cargo traffic. Strikes by transporters can seriously disrupt cargo movement, leading to delays, increased costs and congestion at the port.
Freight forwarders and shippers who have recently shipped to India should pay attention to the latest situation and be aware of the delay and impact of these upcoming and possible strike activities on the transportation of goods!
Source: Shipping Information
