Kakinada : The port cargo boat and steel barges workers union has warned of launching a stir by paralysing the movement of barges, if attempts to deprive them of their livelihood by engaging outside workers were not stopped.

At a press conference on Friday, Vanamadi Veerababu president and Ankadi Sattibabu secretary of the union have alleged a barge owner, contrary to the agreement between workers and boat owners, engaged outsiders on his barge. They said at the time of condemning 200 wooden cargo boats and replacing them with steel barges a few years ago, it was agreed by the boat owners in presence of the then Port Director Srinivasulu, to employ all the displaced workers to work in the steel barges in a phased programme.

Workers `discarded'

Accordingly, the majority of displaced workers were given employment in 88 steel barges. Still hundreds of displaced workers remained without jobs and waited for the new barges to come up to get employed.

But recently, displaced workers who were initially employed on a new barge for 59-days were discarded for the sake of outsiders in violation of the agreement

Traditional cargo

The union raised the issue with the deputy commissioner of labour and it is pending with him. Meanwhile, they said, the deep-water port management was trying to divert the traditional cargo.

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