Tweet
Movement of cargo to and from Kochi Port came to a standstill after port workers, mostly belonging to the private sector, went on an indefinite strike from Tuesday midnight. The were demanding, among other things, job protection and development of Kochi Port as a domestic cargo hub after container operations are shifted to the Vallarpadam Island.
General Convenor of Trade Union Coordination Committee, which enjoys the support of trade unions of port workers cutting across political affiliations, said that the striking workers took out a protest march from Ernakulam Wharf to the office of Dubai Ports World (DP World), which operates the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal through its holding company India Gateway Terminals Limited.
Leaders of various trade unions addressed the protesting workers. The workers feared they might lose their jobs once the container handling operations are shifted to the new site on Vallarpadam Island later this month. However, the Port authorities assured them that there would be no job losses.
A convention of port workers here late Tuesday afternoon, was addressed by leaders of all trade unions at the Kochi Port. They reiterated their demand for job protection and development of Kochi port as a hub for domestic cargo operations. The trade unions also want the Port Trust here to take up stevedoring operations and handling of empty containers to that the workers, who are now employed in container movement will be assured of their jobs even after the box operations are shifted.
A statement issued by the Chairman of the Coordination Committee P. S. Ashiq demanded that once the Rajiv Gandhi terminal was shifted to Vallarpadam, coastal cargo must be handled at the current site of box operations.
General Convenor of Trade Union Coordination Committee, which enjoys the support of trade unions of port workers cutting across political affiliations, said that the striking workers took out a protest march from Ernakulam Wharf to the office of Dubai Ports World (DP World), which operates the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal through its holding company India Gateway Terminals Limited.
Leaders of various trade unions addressed the protesting workers. The workers feared they might lose their jobs once the container handling operations are shifted to the new site on Vallarpadam Island later this month. However, the Port authorities assured them that there would be no job losses.
A convention of port workers here late Tuesday afternoon, was addressed by leaders of all trade unions at the Kochi Port. They reiterated their demand for job protection and development of Kochi port as a hub for domestic cargo operations. The trade unions also want the Port Trust here to take up stevedoring operations and handling of empty containers to that the workers, who are now employed in container movement will be assured of their jobs even after the box operations are shifted.
A statement issued by the Chairman of the Coordination Committee P. S. Ashiq demanded that once the Rajiv Gandhi terminal was shifted to Vallarpadam, coastal cargo must be handled at the current site of box operations.