Port workers strike averted as Ministry set to issue orders to implement wage revision pact

“There was an issue over the agreement which was signed with the workers unions. That has now been approved and we are in the process of issuing orders to the Indian Ports Association to implement the settlement finalised by the Bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee. That was the reason for the workers to call for the strike and now since it is no more there will be no strike,” a government official said.

“There is no question of timeline (on implementing the Ministry’s orders). We have approved it, now they have to simply go and issue the orders on the basis of the Ministry’s orders,” the official added.

The six workers unions at state-owned major ports have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from 17 December if the government fails to implement wage revision and a productivity linked reward scheme before 15 December.

On 27 September, the labour federations at major ports deferred a planned strike after a settlement on revision of wages and other service conditions including pensionary benefits was signed with the Chairman, Bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) and the Managing Director, Indian Ports Association in the presence of Regional Labour Commissioner in Mumbai.

“Unfortunately, after having signed the settlement agreement, the management could not so far implement the settlement for reasons known to them alone,” the six workers federations said.The decision to resort to industrial action including indefinite strike from 17 December was taken at a meeting of the National Coordination Committee of the Port and Dock Workers held in Goa on 23 November.

The workers unions also cited the lack of action by the government to conclude a settlement on a productivity linked reward scheme per a memorandum of understanding approved by the Union Cabinet, to call for a strike.