Workers of Cochin Port went on strike on 30 November, 2010 for five days. The employees of the India Gateway Terminal in Cochin, owned by DP World, were demanding an increase in wages. The strike action paralysed the transportation of containers to and from the terminal, impacting Christmas and New Year shipments. One container ship was diverted to New Mangalore Port as a result of the action.
Workers of Cochin Port went on strike on 30 November, 2010 for five days. The employees of the India Gateway Terminal in Cochin, owned by DP World, were demanding an increase in wages. The strike action paralysed the transportation of containers to and from the terminal, impacting Christmas and New Year shipments. One container ship was diverted to New Mangalore Port as a result of the action.
Finally, through negotiations between the All India Port and Dock Workers’ Federation (AIP&DWF), the Trade Union Coordination Committee spearheading the strike, and the owners’ association, a settlement has been reached. There is a two-year agreement giving workers a 31 per cent wage increase as well as an 18 per cent increase in other allowances.
According to an activist of the Cochin Port Staff Association: “Workers’ solidarity won a fairly good increase – a worker getting a wage of Rs 10,000 per month will be getting Rs 13,100 from December 2010 onwards.”