Port, dock workers to go on indefinite strike from March 9
Mumbai: Port and dock workers all over India will go on an indefinite strike from March 9 to protest against the government’s move to corporatise major ports.
A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting in Mumbai of five major federations – Port, Dock & Waterfront Workers’ Federation, All India Port & Dock Workers’ Federation, Water Transport Workers’ Federation of India, All India Port and Dock Federation (workers) and Indian National Port & Dock Workers’ Federation.
The federations have forwarded a joint letter to the Shipping Minister, apprising it of the federations’ opposition to the port corporatisation move.
“The Ministry is going ahead with the port corporatisation move unilaterally, disregarding the advice given by the 2011 Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport that the view of labour federations should also be considered before proceeding with the issue,” said T. Narendra Rao, general secretary of Water Transport Workers Federation.
“The move will be detrimental to the existence of ports, besides affecting the survival of workers and pensioners.”