Indian dockers’ unions demand early settlement of charter of demands at GTI

Indian dockers’ unions demand early settlement of charter of demands at GTI

7 September 2012

http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/7824

Hundreds of Indian dockworkers turned out to a meeting this week where their unions demanded early settlement of their charter of demands submitted in March to the contractors operating at their terminal.

Despite the heaviest rainfall of the season, more than 450 dockers attended the gate meeting at Gateway Terminals India (GTI) in Mumbai, which is run by Global Network Terminal Operator (GNT) APM.

The joint action by ITF-affiliates, the Transport & Dock Workers’ Union (TDWU) and Navi Mumbai General Kamgar Sangathana (NMGKS), was finalised at a GNT review meeting run by the ITF in Cochin last month and was used as an opportunity to report back to the members about the preliminary discussions with GTI management and the charter of demands to the four contractors at GTI APM.

Workers were given the opportunity to raise their concerns and grievances during the meeting. Amongst the issues brought up were calls for a reduction in working duty periods (currently 12 hours), more adequate toilet and break facilities, equal pay for contract workers and a focus on health and safety as many young drivers have reported suffering work related back problems.

The unions announced unanimously that they would be taking joint action, including initiating a strike process, if negotiations between themselves, contractors and GTI management remain unsettled beyond a two week period.

Ports of Convenience co-ordinator in India, Kalpana Desai who assisted the unions in organising the meeting said: “This is a really good example of joint working by unions to achieve something tangible for workers on the ground."

P.K Raman (TDWU) and Mahendra Gharat (NMGKS) were unanimous in their response: “We must make sure that contractors are delivering acceptable standards of work and wages for their employees and, if that isn’t happening then we have to take action to make sure it does happen.”

One of the major areas of work for the ITF dockers' section is the GNT campaign, aimed at raising standards for dock workers worldwide. Find out more about the campaign here >>

http://www.itfglobal.org/dockers/gnt.cfm