Port staff appeal to minister for increment

Published Date: 23/Oct/2009 - (NIE)

G Saravanan

Chennai, October 22: PORT and Dock Labour Union, affiliated to Bharathiya Mazdoor Sangh, has appealed to Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan to look into the genuine demand of Chennai Port Trust employees on double increment issue.

Union general secretary R Santhanam told Express: “The Trust which registered over Rs 190 crore net profit last fiscal should seriously think about giving double increment to its employees since it has completed 125 years of existence with a sustained growth.”

“When the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) can give double increment to its employees on completion of 50 years and the TNEB with one increment for its employees, why can’t the Chennai Port Trust,” asked Santhanam.

Regarding the demand, members of the Port and Dock Labour Union led by Santhanam met Vasan recently and who promised them with personal persual to the issue with the board members of the Port Trust. According to estimate, if the Port Trust gives its nod to double increment to all workers next month, its salary expenditure could rise only by another Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 crore annually.

The Trust employees were only able to receive a five-gram gold coin and a wrist watch after a nod at the meeting of board members for celebrations on completion of 125 years of existence two years ago. According to sources, in the meet, not a single member had raised the proposal for announcing double increment for Port Trust employees.