13 major Indian ports workers to join nationwide strike

CHENNAI: Workers and employees at 13 major ports are to join in a nationwide strike on February 20 and 21 to oppose corporatisation of major ports, and demand the need to fill up all those vacancies at ports that are vacant since 2007.

The strike call was announced by the union leaders of major ports’ workers after a meeting held in Chennai on Friday.

A strike notice will be served on February 4 through the federation affiliates at all major ports, says a joint statement issued by the federations.

The meeting was chaired by G. Kalan, President, Tamil Nadu State INTUC and General Secretary of the Indian National Port & Dock Workers Federation (INTUC).

There were representations from the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation (from both HMS and Workers), Water Transport Federation of India and Port and Dock Water Front Workers Federation of India.

The unions also demanded implementation of various settlements and regularising of contract workers. They also want stoppage of outsourcing and contracting perennial and regular port-related activities / works, and exclude major ports from the purview of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports. All these will be included in the strike notice, the statement says.