BY IANS,
Kolkata: Kolkata Port Trust’s (KoPT) board of trustees Friday decided to approach the West Bengal government to hold an immediate meeting of all stakeholders to solve the crisis at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) following a labour unrest.
“The board of trustees decided to approach the chief secretary in the government of West Bengal in the case and with the request to hold an earliest as possible meeting at least at the level of district magistrate wherein all concerned stakeholders may remain present to address the problem of labour concern and law and order situation,” a KoPT release said here.
The board of trustees held a meeting Friday and considered the views expressed by all the stakeholders present in the meeting convened by the Port Trust at Haldia Thursday.
The board also decided to approach the ABG-LDA Bulk Handling Private Ltd, the private sector operator which earlier complained of low cargo offerings and unviable working conditions, and later terminated 275 workers Sept 24.
The operator has complained that it still had nearly double the optimal manpower of 350, but the trade unions, especially the Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress have not taken kindly to the manpower downsizing.
The unions, which earlier expressed opposition to the operator’s decision to channelise more cargo to the two ABG-operated mechanised berths, have brought operations to a standstill at the two berths since Saturday.