Kerala - Kochi

Port workers seek pay hike

KOCHI: The representatives of the five recognised federations of port and dockworkers at a meeting held in Mumbai decided to attend the meeting of the Bipartite Wage Revision Committee (BWNC) and to approach the Union Shipping Minister to know the decision of the government about the periodicity of the settlement and the quantum of increase payable to the workers in the new wage settlement effective from January 2007. he federations have also decided to mobilise the port and dock workers for a nation-wide agitation if there is no favourable decision by the Ministry of Shipping on these crucial issues.

The workers had been forced to boycott the proceedings of the BWNC with effect from October 4 owing to the failure of the management representatives in the committee to make an offer based on the charter of demands submitted by the federations even after 22 months. Meanwhile, a letter from the Ministry of Shipping said that the chairman of the BWNC had been directed to convene an urgent meeting.

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