Indian Port Workers to Launch Indefinite Strike
Port and dock workers in India are planning to go on an indefinite strike starting March 16th – they are protesting the government’s move to corporatize major ports.
The original decision by workers to go on an indefinite strike from March 9 has been tentatively postponed to March 16, following a meeting called by the chief labour commissioner (CLC).
According to S R Apraj, general-secretary, Mumbai Port Trust, on March 9, a meeting is scheduled with the Indian Ports Association; on March 12 with the shipping secretary; and, on March 13 with the CLC.
If the negotiations are fruitful, there will be no strike on March 16, he added. The strike has been called against the unilateral decision of the Shipping Ministry to corporatize the country's major ports, a release by Transport and Dock Workers' Union, Mumbai said.
Labor federations, representing dockers and port workers at 12 major cargo hubs, have officially advised port authorities of their decision to walk off the job over the federal government’s economic policies, particularly a reform of publicly owned ports.
The industrial action, a big test for the reformist Narendra Modi-led government that assumed office in May last year, is expected to completely or partially close down India’s major ports.
The five major federations of the 12 major ports of the country, which had called for the strike, are: All India Port & Dock Workers’ Federation; All India Port & Dock Workers’ Federation; Port, Water Transport Workers’ Federation of India; Dock and Waterfront Workers’ Federation; and Indian National Port & Dock Workers’ Federation.
India has 12 federally owned, so-called major ports, equally spread over the west and east coasts, and roughly 180 minor ports, located along the country’s 4,600 miles of coastline.
