Crew strike continues at Kochi as trailer owners dilly-dally

The indefinite strike by container trailer crew at the Kochi port continued today as there was no initiative to settle the issue. The movement of containers in and out of the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT) is likely to be paralysed if the strike continues, though the berthing of ships and loading and un-loading of containers were going on without any interruption.

However, export cargo movement was slowed down on account of the strike since there was diversion of containers to other ports like Tuticorin, a senior official of the India Gateway Terminals Limited (IGTL) told Business Standard.

"We have ample space to keep imported containers at the wharves, but if the strike continues for one week it will really be a problem." The terminal can not function smoothly unless the backlog of imported containers are removed from the wharves.

Interestingly, port authorities and the leadership of trade unions do not seem to be keen on initiating talks to resolve the issue. Sources said that the port had nothing to do with the issue as it was not directly linked to it.

VJ Victor, vice president, Cochin Thuramugha Thozhilali Union (CTTU), said that district labour department, though did not confirm, decided to initiate moves to facilitate talks between the agitating crew and the owners of trailers on 1st April. Since salaries and allowances are paid by trailer owners, either the port or IGTL has any role in the issue.

Meanwhile, in an informal talks with union leaders today, Container Transporters' Association said that they needed 15 more days to take a decision on increasing crew salaries. Unrelenting on the demands, K J Maxi, secretary, Lorry and Mini Lorry Workers' Union (CITU), told Business Standard that the strike would continue unless there was a clear-cut agreement on salary hike.

He said that trailer owners turned a deaf ear when workers had organised a token strike in January 2006 on the same issue. Extension of deadline till 15th April for settlement of the issues would not be possible as workers already gave enough time, he added.