Campaign wins further protection for Mumbai workers

Campaign wins further protection for Mumbai workers

29 June 2011 - The ITF’s Global Network Terminals Campaign has scored a victory in India, where after a three year struggle the TDWU (Transport and Dockworkers' Union) has just secured a collective bargaining agreement that guarantees decent conditions for all trailer truck drivers at the GTI terminal, Mumbai.

The ITF-affiliated TDWU’s agreement is the third it has negotiated with contractors at the APM Terminals owned GTI (Gateway Terminals India) and will increase protection for members working at the port, who had in the past been violently attacked after opting to join a union. According to the ITF, which has fought on their behalf throughout the sometimes bloody struggle, it once again proves that global network terminal operators can and should hold their subcontractors to a decent standard of behaviour.

Mahendra Sharma, ITF Asia / Pacific Regional Secretary, explained: “The drivers’ determination – backed by a well-coordinated international campaign – has forced APMT to impress upon its contractors their responsibility to respect the union and bargain with it for better wages, social security and decent working conditions. It has been a long struggle to get here – over three years of frustration, and at times violence and intimidation. But slowly and steadily TDWU has won the battle.”

He continued: “A benchmark has been set. This is a victory for the principle that, irrespective of who they may be using as a contractor, it is ultimately the real, main employer who is responsible for setting the statutory wages and decent working conditions for those working in the terminal. In this case it is APMT which has engaged in dialogue with the ITF and upheld its responsibilities to hold its contractors to account.”

SR Kulkarni, TDWU president, commented: "The winning of these collective bargaining agreements in the face of such resistance helps bring to an end the glaring inequalities that existed here for too long."
The ITF GNT campaign seeks to ensure benchmarked levels of pay and conditions, along with a ‘level playing field’ of competition at the big four terminal operators, APMT, DPW, HPH and PSA, irrespective of the country they are operating in. This latest advance at Mumbai follows years of campaigning in support of the workers there, and continuing dialogue with APMT.

The ITF is committed to fighting what it calls ‘ports of convenience’ – ports that opt out of safety and pay norms and cut standards. As a result the organisation particularly wants to see the big four GNT operators lead by example and play their part in setting standards throughout the industry.

Following the latest victory in India the ITF will be engaging with DPW, including over the Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal. It will also continue campaigning in both South Asia and Latin America, where it is supporting unions facing multinationals in countries such as Peru and Costa Rica.

For more details please see www.itfglobal.org/dockers/gnt.cfm and www.itfglobal.org/dockers/index.cfm

ENDS

© Scoop Media