Calcutta dock staff to strike work

Our Bureau

KOLKATA, Nov. 19

SHIP watchmen and supervisors at the Calcutta Dock System have decided to resort to an agitation to press their demands, including implementation of the awards recommended by the Bipartite Negotiation Committee on the wage revision for port and dock workers.

The Association of Shipping Interest in Calcutta (ASIC), the employers of the watchmen and supervisors, is yet to implement the award despite being asked by the Ministry of Shipping to pay the interim relief pending the final award, according to a spokesman of the workers.

However, after the intervention of the West Bengal Government, a package deal for the workers was recommended by the Special Cell on Industries under the Chief Ministers Secretariat. The deal includes: immediate implementation of the wage revision with effect from November 1, 2000; introduction of a VRS; payment of arrears to workmen at the time of retirement either through a VRS or on superannuation; and settlement of the legal dues of deceased employees entitled to the wage revision of August, 2000, along with wage arrears for the period from January 1, 1998 to October 31, 2000.

The ASIC has not yet complied with the recommendation despite having accepted them, said Mr Amitabha Banerjee, General Secretary, Calcutta Port & Dock Industrial Workmen Union (HMS). The leaders of five major trade unions affiliated to different central trade unions expressed their solidarity with the watchmen at a meeting here.