With the strike by a section of the marine department and cargo section in public sector Cochin Port Trust (CPT) entering 17th day today, the port employees union resorted to a 24-hour hartal on Willingdon Island here from 6 AM.
The employees have also threatened to resort to indefinite strike from tomorrow.
'Kochi Thuramugha Samrakshana Samithi', a joint forum of seven trade unions of CPT, Convenor Thomas Sebastian, told PTI that the 'adamant' attitude of the Port trust Chairman, was the reason for the port problems.
The strike was called after talks convened by Chief Central Labour Commissioner at Delhi on May 11 had failed to solve the issue of the new 'manning scales', union sources said. They were protesting against the implementation of the award of National Industrial Tribunal on review of manning scales, alleging it would lead to employees losing their jobs.
The unions had earlier decided to resort to an indefinite strike from May four, but had deferred it since the Chief Central Labour Commissioner had convened a meeting in Delhi on May 11 to discuss the issue.
He said the Navy which had been helping with port operations during the 'strike' days had withdrawn from it after the union leaders had met Defence Minister A K Antony in Delhi on Monday.
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