TRADE UNIONS AT NMPT A GLIMPSE

By : KapilPradeeptha

PrashanthSourabhThanuja

CONTENTS

1 . Introduction to trade unions

2 . Indian National Trade Union Congress

3 . New Mangalore Port Staff Association ( HMS )

4 . Karnataka Port and Dock Workers Union ( HMS )

5 . Other trade unions at NMPT and Conclusion

INTRODUCTION TO TRADE UNIONS

A trade union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions.

The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts (collective bargaining) with employers.

The inability of the parties to reach an agreement may lead to industrial action, ending in either strike or  lockout, or binding arbitration.

INTRODUCTION TO TRADE UNIONS

At present there are twelve Central Trade Union Organizations in India .

NMPT has 6 local trade unions affiliated to 4 national trade unions .

1) Canara Port Workers Union ( Stevedores ) : INTUC

2) Canara Dock Workers Union : INTUC3) New Mangalore Port Staff Association : HMS4) Karnataka Dock & General Workers Union : HMS5) BMS6) AITUC

INTRODUCTION TO TRADE UNIONS

Trade Unions Act, 1926 provides for the registration of the Trade Unions with the Registrars of Trade Unions of their territory.

Any 7 or more members of a trade union may apply for the registration of the Trade Union under the Act.

These registered Trade Unions are required to submit annual statutory return to the Registrar regarding their1. General Funds2. Income/Expenses3. Assets/Liabilities

INTUC

INDIAN NATIONAL TRADE UNION CONGRESS

Formed on May 03 , 1947 as a wing of the congress.

Is an autonomous body and is affiliated to the congress.

Has currently 20000 members in Karnataka.

Is a registered and recognized trade union.

CANARA STEVEDORING WORKER’S UNION

A registered trade union at NMPT affiliated to INTUC .

Has women members in the trade union and has a woman trade union leader .

The labor officer is in charge of conducting elections of trade union leader.

Election is done as the random verification process , wherein , only a randomly chosen subset of employees cast their votes .

Mr Sadashiva Shetty is the Current General Secretary of the CSWU.

Overall decisions for any purpose are taken in National Level Agreements by the 12 Trade Union Leaders at INTUC

For a strike to be called 2/3rds majority of members is mandatory.

CANARA STEVEDORING WORKER’S UNION

CANARA STEVEDORING WORKER’S UNION

Trade Union Leaders do participate in General Elections if they feel like it .

If a rival trade union has problems which does not concern INTUC , INTUC provides moral support.

INTUC believes in the peaceful way of resolving issues.

REASONS WHY LABOURERS CALL FOR STRIKES OR LOCKOUTS

unfair labor practices by the management.

wage increase and revisions.

changes in policies on recruitment.

firing of employees

employee safety amongst others

There has been a wage revision issue in 2009 between NMPT management and TU’s.

There was a 133 day strike in Bellary regarding an increase in wages.

INTUC was on the negotiation table.

the issue was solved with an increase in employee wages by Rs2800 .

CANARA STEVEDORING WORKER’S UNION

Hind Mazdoor Sabha

NEW MANGALORE PORT STAFF ASSOCIATION

ABOUT NMPSA

NMPSA is a trade union at NMPT, which was registered in 1977

It is currently managed by General seceratery Mr Ramachandra Rao

It is affiliated to the All India Port and Dock Workers Union headed by S R Kulkarni , and also to the Hind Mazdoor Sabha ( HMS )

WHY NMPSA?

To provide better working conditions for its members

To provide provision of benefits to members

To identify worker’s problems

To solve the worker’s problems by putting it forth before the management

To create equivalence value to the workers

WORKING OF NMPSA

Currently NMPSA has 360 registered members

Each member contributes Rs 120 from his salary for the month of January

These amount is used for the welfare of members

Their premises is provided by NMPT

MODE OF ELECTING THE UNION LEADERS

Election is through first nominating people for the role of trade union leader

And then the elections

But surprisingly for the past 10 years, there has been no election

Women trade union leaders exist , but not at NMPT .

PERFORMANCE OF NMPSA

According to Mr Ramachandra Rao , trade union relations at NMPT have been generally good in recent years

Because of cooperative management , in recent years there were no big issues like conflicts, strikes ; non violence actions happened in NMPT

KARNATAKA DOCK AND PORT WORKERS UNION

KARNATAKA DOCK AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION

Affiliated to All India Port and Dock Workers Union and the Hind Mazdoor Sabha .

Affiliated at the international level to the International Transport Workers Federation , London .

Currently headed by Mr Dinesh Achar and has 248 workers / members in its roster . The trade union leader is elected every year during the Annual General Body Meeting .

KARNATAKA DOCK AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION

There is an Assured Career Progress Scheme where in after working for 10 years , an employee will be compulsorily promoted to the next grade . Similarly after 20 years , 30 years etc .

The HMS collectively was responsible for this implementation at NMPT .

KARNATAKA DOCK AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION

A certain amount is collected each year during January from each member as membership fees for financing the activities of the trade union .

The KDGWU believes in peaceful resolution of issues between the management and the employees and its overall relationship with the management is cordial .

KARNATAKA DOCK AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION

According to Mr Dinesh Achar , a trade union leader takes up issues pertaining to employees working conditions , pay , holidays , discrimination etc and brings it to the notice of the management .

Then collective bargaining is done so as to reach an agreement between the management and the employees .Strikes may be called if management is adamant , but the trade union would rather report it to the State Labour Commissioner at Mangalore for conciliation .

OTHER TRADE UNIONS AND CONCLUSION

OTHER TRADE UNIONS AT NMPT

BMS – BHARATIYA MAZDOOR SANGH

Founded 23 July 1955 by Shri D B Thengadi

A Non political productivity oriented trade union .

Nationalism is its principle .

AITUC - ALL INDIA TRADE UNION CONGRESS

Founded in 1920

Was the central trade union organization of workers of India

Communist in philosophy .

RECENT PROTEST IN NMPT BY TRADE UNIONS

BY: New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) dock workers

led by BMS and AITUC .

DEMANDS: to increase the retirement age to 60 to add fifty per cent of DA while making salary

payment with effect from 2005 to make interim payment on a fixed rate from

2007 to abandon the privatization of major ports. 

Result was favorable to employees

CONCLUSION

Faith in the non violent ( Gandhian ) approach

Collective bargaining is powerful .

Cordial relationship with management .

Trade Unionism remaining relevant even today .

THANK YOU