The National Coordination Committee of Six Federations of Port and Dock Workers has scheduled a series of protests in December to voice its displeasure with the Indian Ports Association (IPA) for its tardiness in putting into effect the salary settlement that was negotiated on September 27.
The All-India Port & Dock Workers Federation (HMS), All India Port & Dock Workers Federation (Workers) (HMS), Water Transport Workers Federation of India (CITU), Port Dock & Waterfront Workers Federation of India (AITUC), Indian National Port & Dock Workers Federation (INTUC), and Bharatiya Port & Dock Mazdoor Mahasangh (BMS) were among the six Federations that attended a meeting in the state where this decision was made.
The leaders of the meeting agreed that on November 28, affiliates of the six Federations would write to the chairpersons of each major port, requesting that the settlement be implemented immediately. On December 5, the employees will mark Protest Day by donning badges and planning large-scale protests at the Port Administrative Buildings. On December 10, workers and pensioners will participate in large-scale protests to call for the settlement and payment of pension benefits.
The Federations intend to start industrial action, including an indefinite strike, on December 17 if the settlement is not put into effect by that date. Even two months after it was signed, the federations have asserted that the settlement, which deals with pay adjustments and pensionary benefits from January 1, 2022, has not yet been put into force.
They stated that a Bipartite Pay Negotiation Committee (BWNC), established on June 2, 2022, conducted lengthy negotiations before reaching a pay settlement. Employees called for an indefinite strike in August 2024 over the years-long delay in the process. A formal settlement was reached with the Regional Labour Commissioner (C), Mumbai, under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, following intervention by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, which resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 27. The Federations asserted that the IPA has not sent the settlement to the Port Authorities for execution in spite of these developments.
