KOCHI: The Ministry of Shipping has asked all major ports in the country to implement revised manning scale as per the National Industrial Tribunal Award. The Ministry gave this directive at the meeting of chairmen of all major ports held in New Delhi on Friday.
It has also been suggested at the meeting that chairmen of the respective ports may solve the disputes which may arise when the Award was implemented. Following this, a conciliation meeting will be called in Kochi on Saturday.
It was stated at the meeting that the Award was the decision of a statutory tribunal. Hence, there was no option but to implement it as it was binding on both parties. The federations of trade unions were signatories to the settlement which led to the reference to the adjudication.
Further, it was noted that the Award of a National Industrial Tribunal can be challenged only before a higher judicial forum and port management does not have the authority to review it.
The employees of Marine Department of Cochin Port had been on strike for the past three weeks after the Award was implemented here.
The revised manning scale as per the National Industrial Tribunal Award was fully implemented in Cochin, Paradip and Vishakhapatnam ports. Other ports have been issued administrative order to implement the award. Meanwhile, a few employees on probation, who are facing termination for their involvement in strike, have withdrawn from strike and resumed working.
The port had initiated action to terminate 14 employees of Marine Department for participating in strike during probation period.
Hunger strike
Two employees on Friday started an indefinite hunger strike in front of Cochin Port chairman’s office.
Manoj of HMS and Baburaj of CITU are the employees who are on hunger strike.