Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 21: Opposing proposal to private New Mangalore Port Trust, employees of the port, under the leadership of different unions, resorted to flash strike in front of the administrative office of the trust on Friday January 20.

Leaders of the unions agreed that there was no direct reference to privatization of the port from the ministry so far. They however, pointed out to a letter addressed to NMPT chairman, asking him to send a list of representatives, who will participate in discussions relating to a proposal decided at the meeting of joint secretaries’ level meeting of ports department. “The letter has purposefully avoided reference to the proposal of privatization, by making only indirect reference to it. This is a sign that the government is going ahead with the proposal to privatize ports,” they alleged.

Leaders like K Sadashiva Shetty of Indian National Trade Union Congress, P Sudhakar Kamath and Ramachandra Gowda of Hind Mazdoor Sangh, Satyajit Suratkal and Rohitaksha of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, B Mohammedali of All India Trade Union Congress, addressed the protestors.

In a memorandum submitted to the trust administration, the union representatives asserted that it would be wrong to invite representatives of all the unions functioning in different ports for talks on the subject. They also demanded for inviting only authorized national level federations representing ports and dock workers as promised by the ministry in the past, as the issue is of national importance.