News
Labor unions in India that represent dockworkers recently agreed with the government of the nation to postpone the indefinite nationwide strike that they had planned to begin on April 19 to May 12. They will begin negotiations with the Indian Ports Association (IPA) on April 21.
The labor unions had acted repulsively against the reform of India’s public ports and harbors, which includes the drastic transfer to port trusts of the authority of port and harbor development, the privatization of operations and the liberalization of charges. Claiming that dockworkers could become unemployed if port and harbor operations are privatized, they had announced that they would kick off work stoppage on April 19 at 12 ports that handled some 70% of the containerized shipments moved to and from the nation, including Kolkata and Paradip.
In India, there was a 24-hour strike at 12 major ports two years ago.
