By G Saravanan
CHENNAI: After day-long talks between the management (Indian Ports Association) and five dock workers’ federations in New Delhi, the Shipping Ministry on Monday agreed to provide 23 per cent fitment benefits and settle arrears from the day the workers demanded, thus averting a nationwide dock strike that was to begin from Monday midnight.
According to sources, there were tense moments at the meeting, as an IPA representative abruptly walked out saying that the workers’ demands could not be met.
When the upset federations were busy chalking out strategies for the next course of action, the secretary of the Shipping Ministry organised another round of talks and finally agreed to the dock workers’ demands of fitment benefits of 23 per cent of pay, and dearness allowance besides giving arrears from January 1, 2007 instead of January 2009.
Besides the chairmen of all major ports, representatives of the five recognised federations — the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation, the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation (Workers), the Water Transport Workers Federation of India, the Indian National Port and Dock Workers Federation and Port, the Dock and Waterfront Workers Federation of India — participated in the meet.
Since fitment was a major issue, a Bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) consisting of representatives of the management and the federations of port and dock workers was constituted by the Ministry of Shipping in January 2007.
They held several rounds of negotiations during the last three years, but could not find a win-win solution for all.
Last September, when another major strike was planned for the issue by these dockworkers’ federations, Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan intervened and assured the dockworkers of a fair deal. Based on his request, the workers called off their strike then.
When the management announced that the fitment benefits would be counted only from January 2009 and that arrears would be calculated from that period, workers turned furious and announced another nationwide strike from Monday (January 5). They wanted the arrears calculated from January 1, 2007 instead.
According to sources, there were tense moments at the meeting, as an IPA representative abruptly walked out saying that the workers’ demands could not be met.
When the upset federations were busy chalking out strategies for the next course of action, the secretary of the Shipping Ministry organised another round of talks and finally agreed to the dock workers’ demands of fitment benefits of 23 per cent of pay, and dearness allowance besides giving arrears from January 1, 2007 instead of January 2009.
Besides the chairmen of all major ports, representatives of the five recognised federations — the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation, the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation (Workers), the Water Transport Workers Federation of India, the Indian National Port and Dock Workers Federation and Port, the Dock and Waterfront Workers Federation of India — participated in the meet.
Since fitment was a major issue, a Bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) consisting of representatives of the management and the federations of port and dock workers was constituted by the Ministry of Shipping in January 2007.
They held several rounds of negotiations during the last three years, but could not find a win-win solution for all.
Last September, when another major strike was planned for the issue by these dockworkers’ federations, Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan intervened and assured the dockworkers of a fair deal. Based on his request, the workers called off their strike then.
When the management announced that the fitment benefits would be counted only from January 2009 and that arrears would be calculated from that period, workers turned furious and announced another nationwide strike from Monday (January 5). They wanted the arrears calculated from January 1, 2007 instead.
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