Kerala - Kochi   

Strike by clearing clerks withdrawn

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: A flash strike resorted to by the clerical staff of the Cochin Customs House Agents' Association (CCHAA) from Friday was withdrawn following talks between the association and the striking staff.

A CCHAA spokesman said that India Gateway Terminal Limited (IGTPL) promised to issue a report by Tuesday on the incident that triggered the flash strike.

The strike started after a security personnel at the IGTPL allegedly assaulted a clearing clerk at the terminal on Wednesday evening. IGTPL authorities suspended the person involved in the incident and promised a report on the incidents by Tuesday.

The strike paralysed container movement to and from the IGTPL-operated Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal. The strike threatened to bring other cargo operations too to a standstill.

A port official said that the strike would send wrong signals and bring bad reputation to the port as it tried to smoothen out cargo operations and cut cost of cargo handling.

He said that it was wrong on the part of the CCHAA clerical staff to go on a strike even after the IGTPL authorities promised stern action against the security personnel involved in the incident.

This is the second strike in about a fortnight. Earlier, crew of trailer lorries serving the container terminal went on a strike after one of the crew was ordered not to enter the terminal area for a week following a breach in security.

The strike was withdrawn after five days by which time container movement to and from the port came to complete halt.

Port Trust Chairman N. Ramachandran said that the port authorities had filed a complaint against the striking employees who were obstructing others from working. He said that those who were on strike for the last two days did not belong to a recognised trade union at the port and that the port authorities were not able to take direct action against them.

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