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Ports of Pain! Dock-workers strike for more pay, govt hardens stance

Rediff Business Bureau; photographs: Jewella C Miranda

More than 100,000 dock labourers, shore workers and clerical staff began an "indefinite strike" on Tuesday at 11 major ports across India demanding more wages, suspension of port privatisation and better working conditions.

Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Cochin and Kandla are among the 11 ports. The other six ports are at Visakhapatnam, Panaji, Tuticorin, Paradip, JNPT (Nhava Sheva) and New Mangalore.

The workers' main demand is a 100 per cent pay-hike. The government is willing to effect a 28 per cent hike.

India's government-controlled ports handle some 684,000 tonnes of cargo daily (250 million tonnes of cargo per annum). They are expected to handle about 424 million tonnes of freight by 2003.

The government pressed into contingency service the navy, army, port officers and workers of shipping agents. While movement of liquid products (oil and petroleum) was not affected much, offloading of bulky, dry commodities like coal and foodgrains, which is labour-intensive, was severely disrupted.

The workers and the government made contradictory claims: the former maintained that work at ports was completely crippled; the latter said its contingency measures ensured normal operations.

The government said it is still open for talks.

Surface Transport Minister Raj Nath Singh appealed to the workers to resume work and assured discussions with the Union Cabinet to resolve the issues within a month.

'Emulate Margaret Thatcher, be stern'

Industry associations said the strike could dampen foreign investment. They termed it as unfortunate and untimely because "exports are looking up".

Trade bodies urged the government to take an unbending posture and treat the port problem in the manner of a strike by air traffic controllers at airports.

"Vessels carrying essential items like foodgrains and oil should be allowed to dock and leave the ports," said Tarun Das, secretary-general, the Confederation of Indian Industry, in a media interview. "The government should handle it like the way Margaret Thatcher broke the miners' strike in Britain."

Major corporates refrained from commenting, though reports indicated that several vessels carrying commodity imports were stranded on high seas for want of docking berths.

Darkness, no cameras, action, reactions

The strike started at midnight. This is how it progressed at different ports.

Calcutta: In the eastern port city of Communist-ruled West Bengal, police clashed with irate, slogan-shouting workers. The latter waved red flags and tried to prevent officials from taking up contingency positions.

Madras: Port work here in the southern state of Tamil Nadu was hit badly. Madras handles over 35,000 tonnes of coal a day.

Officials said the development took them by surprise as the workers began the strike during the intervening night between Monday and Tuesday. "We have been left with a backlog of vessels," a senior port official said.

Tuticorin: Sterlite Industries' copper smelter operations in this Tamil Nadu town were reportedly normal, thanks to its reserve inventories. One of its vessels containing copper supplies was among those stuck.

Observers said if the strike continues for a longer period, the contigency operations may prove inadequate.

Cochin: In southern Kerala, officials said no major disruptions were experienced as 80 per cent of the port traffic comprises liquid commodities.

"Officers and some 2,000 emergency personnel are present in full strength and are handling the two ships that are presently docked," an official said. Movement of iron ore was hit but offloading of oil and coking coal was normal, he added.

Bombay: Ports in India's commercial capital in the western state of Maharashtra ground to a halt. However, Bombay Port officials exuded confidence saying they had mentally prepared in advance to handle contingency operations. "We will be able to handle all movement," an official said. About 82,000 tonnes of cargo is handled daily here. Some 30,000 workers struck work.

Kandla: This port in Gujarat in western India is the busiest: it handles 97,000 tonnes of (edible/crude) oil and petroleum cargo and 41,000 tonnes of dry cargo each day. Staff attendance plunged today, taking down along with it the cargo movement.

Port perspectives

Media reports quoted Indian trade bodies as saying that India needs more than $ 200 billion in private investment in infrastructure areas like ports, roads, power and telecommunications by 2002. The government plans to invest $4.1 billion by 2005 on developing major ports.

The strike is the first country-wide protest at ports in more than a decade.

Among the trade unions taking part in the strike are the All India Port and Dock Workers' Federation, Indian National Port and Dock Workers' Federation; Ports, Docks and Waterfront Workers' Federation of India and the Water Transport Workers' Federation of India.

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