Indian port strike delayed for a week

An “indefinite strike” from March 9, proposed by unions protesting corporatisation of Indian ports, has been postponed by a week.

This was seen by the unions as a step towards turning the country’s 12 major port trusts into companies, which they said was against the interests of ports as well as workers.

It has been delayed until March 16, while further meetings between the unions and the chief labour commissioner (CLC) take place.

The major union federations behind the proposed strike, according to Indian newspaper Business Standard, were: the All India Port & Dock Workers’ Federation; the Port, Water Transport Workers’ Federation of India; the Dock and Waterfront Workers’ Federation; and the Indian National Port & Dock Workers’ Federation.