The Haldia dock staff firmly opposed the decision of the Board of Trustees of the Kolkata Port Trust to mechanize six berths at Haldia Dock Complex by placing Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC) on the ground that such mechanization will end up loss of jobs for about 1200 employees. Even an earlier attempt by the management to mechanize berth 4B was strongly protested by the workers and the process had to be stopped forthwith. The employees of the dock have submitted a memorandum to KoPT through their Haldia Dock Bachao Committee opposing their decision of mechanizing the berths. Mr.Ramakanta Burman, General Secretary of Haldia Dock Officers Forum, expressed the view that KoPT would lose INR 32 crore every year by employing MHC; moreover, about 1200 workers would lose their jobs in the contract period of ten years. Meanwhile, the unrest at Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) continues, moving towards, it appears, a possible confrontation between HBT and KoPT. The Board of Trustees of KoPT had also asked the port management to seek the observations of HBT on the proposal of mechanizing the berths; in addition, the HBT also had been asked to resume its operations at its berths 2 and 8 by October 19. In case HBT fails to respond positively, KoPT has no option but to presume that HBT is not interested in continuing its operations at the Haldia Dock Complex and therefore to proceed to take appropriate steps as per the agreement. Of course, the KoPT management would also seek the intervention of the government to solve the labour issues. A three-member committee has been constituted to work out by October 19 the details of royalty to KoPT by the handling agents.
Monday, 15 October 2012
Mechanization of berths opposed by the Haldia dock staff
The Haldia dock staff firmly opposed the decision of the Board of Trustees of the Kolkata Port Trust to mechanize six berths at Haldia Dock Complex by placing Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC) on the ground that such mechanization will end up loss of jobs for about 1200 employees. Even an earlier attempt by the management to mechanize berth 4B was strongly protested by the workers and the process had to be stopped forthwith. The employees of the dock have submitted a memorandum to KoPT through their Haldia Dock Bachao Committee opposing their decision of mechanizing the berths. Mr.Ramakanta Burman, General Secretary of Haldia Dock Officers Forum, expressed the view that KoPT would lose INR 32 crore every year by employing MHC; moreover, about 1200 workers would lose their jobs in the contract period of ten years. Meanwhile, the unrest at Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) continues, moving towards, it appears, a possible confrontation between HBT and KoPT. The Board of Trustees of KoPT had also asked the port management to seek the observations of HBT on the proposal of mechanizing the berths; in addition, the HBT also had been asked to resume its operations at its berths 2 and 8 by October 19. In case HBT fails to respond positively, KoPT has no option but to presume that HBT is not interested in continuing its operations at the Haldia Dock Complex and therefore to proceed to take appropriate steps as per the agreement. Of course, the KoPT management would also seek the intervention of the government to solve the labour issues. A three-member committee has been constituted to work out by October 19 the details of royalty to KoPT by the handling agents.
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