Date:26/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/07/26/stories/2006072602612300.htm

Back New Mangalore Port workers stage protest

Our Bureau

Urge meet to discuss issues

Mangalore , July 25

Nearly 500 dock and port workers staged a demonstration in front of the administrative office of the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) on Tuesday urging the Union Government to fulfil their various demands.

The demonstration began at 1.30 p.m and ended at 2.30 p.m.

In a memorandum submitted to the Union Shipping Secretary, through the NMPT Chairman, the protestors urged the Government to convene a meeting of the representatives of the port and dock workers' federations to discuss and settle various issues related to them.

Opposing the ruling of the National Industrial Tribunal, Kolkata, they said that implementation of the ruling will paralyse the activities at the major ports.

"Neither the presiding officer of the Tribunal had taken into account the local conditions prevailing at each major port, nor the officer thought it fit to take the assistance of experts and hear the views of the parties on the report of the experts before giving the ruling," the memorandum said.

Some of the other demands included constitution of a bipartite wage negotiation committee and filing up of vacant posts in major ports.

Members affiliated to the Karnataka Dock and General Workers' Union, the New Mangalore Port Staff Association, and the New Mangalore Port and Dock Workers' Union took part in the demonstration.