Seamen union plans strike from Jan 31 on PF scam

The National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) is planning to launch an indefinite strike from January 31 for recovering Rs 100 crore lost in the Seamen Provident Fund (SPF) scam in 2002.

NUSI has threatened indefinite strike on Indian and foreign flag vessels in the offshore, domestic trade and international trade if government is not recouping the provident fund with interest.

Earlier, NUSI's rival union Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) had deferred their indefinite strike till January 31 following the intervention of the Mumbai High Court.

The loss due to one-day strike to shipping industry is estimated between Rs 150-200 crore to ship owners, according to industry analysts. As shipowners are not the party to the SPF scam, Indian National Shipowners' Association (INSA) had challenged the strike call by unions.

The Mumbai HC had asked the government to consider the proposal of one-time settlement within four weeks and adjourned the matter to January 16. NUSI and FSUI have asked the government to pay Rs 92.78 crore along with interest as one-time grant without setting the same as precedent in future. The authorities should be aware that if there is no positive decision from the government, then the seafarers will to resort to indefinite strike on Indian and international vessels in offshore, domestic and foreign-going sectors," NUSI general secretary and treasurer Abdulgani Y Serang said.