Kerala - Kochi   

Workers' strike affects cargo movement at port

KOCHI: Movement of cargo to and from Kochi Port has come to a standstill after private workers engaged in port-related activities joined a 72-hour strike called by the combine Trade Union Coordination Committee from midnight on Sunday.

A spokesman for the Coordination Committee said that 10 trade unions, representing workers engaged in stevedoring, container lorry and loading operations and stuffing and de-stuffing work, have joined the strike.

The unions have resorted to the strike after two rounds of discussions with regional labour office here failed to find an immediate solution to the issues raised by the workers, who fear that the commissioning of the International Container Transhipment Terminal will affect their future job prospects.

The striking workers took out a march to the office of India Gateway Terminal Limited and held a protest meeting. The march started from Ernakulam Wharf. The issues raised by the unions include continued operation of Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal once the present operations are shifted from there to the new site on Vallarpadam.

10,000 workers

General Convener of the Coordination Committee Charles George claimed that more than 10,000 workers have joined the strike.

He said that the issues raised by the striking workers had to be addressed through a coordinated effort among the Port Trust authorities and the State Government.

He even sought special intervention by Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan.

Criticised

Meanwhile, the High Powered Standing Committee on the Cochin Port under the aegis of Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry slammed the strike and described it as yet another instance of port users being held to ransom.

Repeated strikes have hit the credibility of Cochin Port. The port users are under pressure to meet business deadlines and this round of strike “is more than we can bear,” said a statement from the Coordination Committee.

Coming as it is close to the commissioning of the Vallarpadam project, the strike tarnishes the image of the Port. The statement also warned of possible cargo diversion on account of the strike.

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