In response to the appeal made by Mr N. K. Prasad, Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) of the Union government, representatives of the five recognised federations of port and dock workers have deferred their nationwide strike, scheduled to commence on April 15, to May 7.
The representatives had met with the CLC as well as officials from the Indian Ports Association (IPA) and the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) here on April 13.
The CLC has now called for a conciliation meeting on May 6 with the five federations and the Port managements.
A press statement informed that the government has agreed to discuss the issue of corporatisation of the Major Ports with the representatives of the federations before taking any decision. The IPA, the representative body of the Major Ports, has also agreed to recommend to the government the setting up of a wage revision committee, as the existing settlement was expiring in December.
The federations reiterated their stand that as in the past, the government should constitute the committee with equal representation of port and dock workers and Port authorities.
The IPA also agreed to advise all the Major Port Trusts to implement the non-implemented clauses of the previous wage revision settlements, and monitor that it was being done, the release pointed out.
Source : Exim News Service - NEW DELHI, April 14