Workers affiliated with various unions staged a protest outside the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) Administrative building at Sada on Wednesday afternoon, expressing frustration over the prolonged delay in settling the wage negotiation of All India Port & Dock Workers. On the instructions of five federations, including The Mormugao Port & Railway Workers Union and The Goa Port & Dock Employees Union, the day was observed as ‘All India Betrayal Day.’
Union leaders, condemning what they saw as ‘anti-labour policies’ of the management, issued a stern warning of a potential strike if their demands were not met.
President of the workers union, Abhay Rane, underscored the extensive delay in concluding the wage settlement of Class III & IV employees of major ports since January 1, 2022. Rane demanded that the Indian Ports Management withdraw what they deemed ‘illogical and baseless arguments’ to deny wage increases.
Rane emphasised, “The Ministry should withdraw the anti-labour and unethical preconditions to deny fair and reasonable wage increases to Class III & IV employees.” He criticised the Ministry’s guidelines, stating they were against principles of fair negotiation, particularly concerning the affordability clause and restrictions on negotiated pay scales.