The mooring crew has gone on strike at the Chennai Port just as it was recovering from a crippling strike by tug masters.
For five days now, the mooring crew has struck work, affecting the movement of 42 vessels. Ten vessels are waiting to leave port while 32 are out at sea.
Port authorities have commissioned staff from the marine department to get the mooring work done. "We are confident of making 15 moves (inward\outward movement of vessels) a day, the same as when the mooring crew was working," officials said. The target can be achieved by working three eight-hour shifts a day.
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Eight vessels have been able to move out of port and for those waiting to come in, priority is being given to passenger, crude oil, coal and palm oil carriers.
Meanwhile, the mooring crew has rejected a compromise offer of the port authorities, leaving little room for an early solution. Port officials say it will take between a week and 10 days' to clear the backlog.
The main issue for the striking crew is a move from three eight-hour shifts to two 12-hour shifts. This will, in effect, mean an extra day's wages, roughly an additional Rs 5,000 per month, per worker.
At present, the mooring crew is paid a salary and a fixed allowance over and above it. Normally there are 40 workers in a shift and the port offered to pay an incentive, linked to work, during its negotiations with the striking crew.
Additional manpower, another demand of the crew, was also partially met, as workers were allowed to continue in a second shift if they desired.
Port authorities are not willing to concede the mooring crew's demand before taking a closer look at the workers' charter of demands.