Cochin Port trade union forum threatens to escalate stir

Cochin Port Joint Union Forum has decided to intensify its ongoing agitation towards direct industrial action without further notice.

According to the forum, the decision followed allegedly unilateral and arbitrary steps taken by the port management to outsource maritime and cargo handling operations. The forum has been organizing an indefinite strike since March 16 this year against the management’s alleged anti-worker policies.

The forum formally called on the port master to withdraw any proposals to privatize essential functions currently performed by regular or port-appointed contract workers.

Alarmed by claims that the workforce has dwindled to just 475 regular workers, the forum said vacancies have gone unfilled for years, “leading to unbearable workloads, mental stress and frustration among employees.”

While the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Indian Ports Association remain vigilant in preventing labor unrest through timely intervention and dialogue with national federations, the industrial relations environment at Cochin Port remains alarmingly inefficient. Forum chairman MP Benny Behanan and convenor Nandakumar CD said in a statement that unions that had already sent their notices of demand “the ball is now in management’s court” to intervene proactively or face immediate industrial action.