The port workers unions have ‘deferred” a planned strike from the midnight of Wednesday following a memorandum of understanding finalised with the management of the 12 state-owned ports on revision of wages and other service conditions including pensionary benefits.
According to the MoU signed on Tuesday between the Chairman, Bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC), Managing Director, Indian Ports Association and the six Federations of Port and Dock Workers of Indian major ports, workers will be entitled to a fitment benefit of 8.5 percent on the aggregate amount of basic pay prevailing on 31 December 2021 plus 30 percent variable dearness allowance on 1 January 2022.
The pay scales effective 1 January 2022 will be formulated as per existing practice.
A special allowance of Rs500 per month will be given to the working employees during the operative period of settlement from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2026 or up to the date of superannuation of working employees, whichever is earlier.
The period of wage settlement will be for five years from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2026.
A drafting committee will be constituted by the BWNC to prepare wage settlement within ten days with the port management assuring that the BWNC proceedings will conclude the settlement within 15 days.
“Considering the understanding, the six Federations agreed to defer the proposed strike from 28 August,” according to the MoU.
