MINISTER OF SURFACE TRANSPORT (RAJNATH SINGH)
(a) to (h): A statement is laid on the Table of the Lok Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (h) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 52
FOR ANSWER ON 28.02.2000 RAISED BY S/SHRI RAMJIVAN SINGH AND S.D.N.R. WADIYAR REGARDING STRIKE
BY DOCK WORKERS.
(a) & (b): The Port & Dock Workers at the Major Ports went on strike from 18.1.2000 to
22.1.2000 to press for their demands on wage revision and liberalisation in service conditions.
During the strike, the ports had been able to carry on port operations to some extent. Handling
of essential cargoes was maintained.
(c): During the Month of January, 2000, the target for handling traffic at the Major Ports
was 22.736 Million Tonnes. As against this, the cargo handled was 21.116 Million Tonnes. The
short fall in cargo handling is expected to be made good in the balance period of current
financial year. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the loss due to the strike.
(d): Yes, Sir.
(e) to (g): During discussions between the Minister of Surface Transport and the federation
leaders held on 21st and 22nd January, 2000, the following decisions were taken:-
(i) Port Allowance will be given to the Port Workers in place of City Compensatory Allowance
(CCA) and the former will be paid w.e.f. 1.1.1998.
(ii) The Port Workers will have the option to choose either House Rent Allowance at the
existing rates with enhanced ceiling or House Rent Allowance at the Government rates.
(iii) Unimplemented terms of last settlement dated 6.12.1994 will be discussed locally. In the
event of failure to resolve the issues, the same would be referred to arbitrator/adjudicator.
(iv) The period of settlement and if HRA may be paid with retrospective effect i.e. from
1.1.1998 would be considered by the Government at the appropriate level and efforts would be
made to resolve these issues before 31.3.2000.
(v) The issues raised in the strike notices by the federations will be discussed and settled
by 28.2.2000 at the BWNC level.
(vi) The issues raised by the management for improving productivity and efficiency in the
ports would be referred to adjudicator, who may take into account local conditions of each
port and other relevant factors and finalise his award within a period of 6 months, which
will be binding on both the parties.
(vii) No worker will be victimised on account of his participation in the strike.
(h): There is no financial impact of the agreement on the Government exchequer as the
expenditure is to be borne by ports from their own resources.
