According to foreign media reports, dockworkers at 12 of India's largest ports have recently formally announced that they will go on an indefinite strike from Aug. 28 to protest the failure to reach agreement on long-running pay negotiations.
Leaders of several trade union federations such as the All India Ports and Dock Workers Federation and the Indian Water Transport Workers Federation joined together in a two-day meeting at the V.O.C. port of Thoothukudi and unanimously approved the decision to go on strike.
The strike is expected to have a major impact on the Indian logistics community.
It is understood that the decision was taken after numerous consultations and 31 months of unsuccessful salary negotiations. The unions have accused the Transport Ministry of India of displaying a “lazy attitude” during the negotiations, leading to growing discontent among port workers, who decided to take extreme action.
The Bilateral Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) set up by the shipping ministry in March 2021 after the expiry of the last pay contract in December 2021 has not been able to resolve the dispute in the seven meetings held since then.
The main demands of the Indian port workers include revision of pay scales, upgradation of applicable benefits, protection of existing benefits, enforcement of past agreements, adjustment of dearness allowance and payment of arrears of wages.
In response, logistics giant Kuehne+Nagel warned that the upcoming strike could seriously disrupt cargo transportation, leading to delays, increased costs and congestion.
In addition, DXN issued a notice on August 14 that container carriers in India have indicated that if negotiations with the authorities fail to reach an agreement, the carriers will take their vehicles off the road from Tuesday, August 20, and begin a strike movement in Maharashtra, where the Nhava Sheva port is located.
As the date of the strike approaches, if this stalemate continues, it will cause serious disruption to port operations across India. Cargo owners and forwarders with shipping plans need to closely monitor the development of the situation and make timely adjustments to their transportation plans according to the latest situation.
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