The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : VDLB merger with VPT soon: AITUC leader

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

VDLB merger with VPT soon: AITUC leader

Staff Reporter

A sub-committee constituted to examine its financial implications

VISAKHAPATNAM: Merger of Visakhapatnam Dock Labour Board (VDLB) with Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT), the demand which has been pending for the last 15 years, will soon become a reality, according to General Secretary of Port, Dock and Waterfront Workers Federation of India (AITUC) V.V. Rama Rao.

Addressing a media conference on Friday, he recalled that the VPT Chairman had submitted a draft scheme in March last year to facilitate the merger. The Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, in response to the Chairman’s letter, had accorded its approval to the Draft Settlement.

A sub-committee was constituted to examine the financial implications in view of the merger and for consideration of the terms of settlement sent by the Ministry.

Mr. Rama Rao said that the Draft Memorandum of settlement was also unanimously approved at the Special Board Meeting of VDLB held on June 30 this year and the same was sent to the Ministry for approval. He said that he had written to the Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways A.P.V.N. Sarma on Wednesday and was awaiting a reply from him.

He recalled that DLB at Bombay Port Trust was the first to be merged with that Port followed by other ports. The DLB at VPT and Kolkata haven’t been merged so far, he said and attributed the delay at VPT to the dual standards being adopted by HMS regarding the merger.

Solution sought

He also sought an early solution to the demand for regularisation of the private pool workers in the same way as was done in Tuticorin, New Mangalore and Paradip Ports and auditing of the accounts of the Pool.

Mr. Rama Rao said that VPT would be completing 75 years on October 7 this year and the AITUC Federation has recently completed 72 years in VPT. He claimed that the union was representing 85 per cent of the total strength in VDLB and was the no.1 union in VPT. He recalled that the VPT management had announced in the past that they would spend Rs.5 crores for giving mementoes to staff on the Platinum Jubilee of the Port.

The Federation had sought 10 gm gold to each worker and employee but nothing has been heard from the management so far.

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