Port workers’ strike on Aug 18

Visakhapatnam: Workers of all the major ports in India have announced that they would strike work any time after August 18 in protest the Central government policies that would lead to privatisation and lay off the workers.

Six federations representing port and dock workers of all the 11 major ports met in New Mangalore Port on July 28 and expressed grave concern over situation in the ports due to pro-corporate and anti–labour policies by the Central government that would impact on the livelihood of workers across the country.

The federations served a strike notice on Thursday.In the notice, the leaders demanded the government to incorporate provisions in the proposed Major Port Authorities Act 2016 to protect the jobs, wage structure, service conditions including retirement benefits to the pensioners.

They asked the government to desist from the move of outsourcing major port trust hospitals and fire services.Employees engaged on contract basis, casual in the major ports should be extended with pay and allowances as applicable to serving regular employees performing similar and identical nature of jobs.

The leaders of the federations served the notice to officials in Visakhapatnam Port Trust proposing to go on indefinite strike on or after August 18. Prior to that the employees organised a demonstration in front of administrative office building of Visakhapatnam Port Trust on August 11.