Seafarers' strike on August 29

Over 25,000 seafarers onboard Indian ships have decided to go on a one-day token strike on August 29.

The strike has been called by the National Union for Seafarers of India (NUSI), following the failure of wage negotiation talks with Indian shipowners.

"The shipowners have not come up with any concrete counter proposal and are silent on the principle demands raised by the seafarers. We may resort to an indefinite strike if there is no positive result coming out of these talks," said NUSI General Secretary Abdulgani Y Serang.

Serang said the union was in talks with shipowners' representatives. "We are demanding two phase wage agreement. One is arrears till 2006 and the remaining part of wages," he said.

The one-day strike will derail maritime operations including loading, unloading, chartering and scheduling. This will affect operations of vessels, including offshore and coastal trade. The estimated loss for one is over Rs 35 crore.

As Indian vessels are manned by Indian seafarers, the commercial impact will be massive, according to industry analysts.

Following the instructions by the high court in April, wage negotiations were started by the Indian National Shipowners' Association (INSA) with the striking union.

The demands of the NUSI include year-wise increment, social benefits, retainer benefits and special benefits to trainee seamen.