Port, dock workers demand 15 pc interim relief

Mumbai, Feb 6 (UNI) The bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee of all five recognised federations of port and dock workers have demanded that the port and dock workers employed at all major ports should be paid by way of interim relief that is 15 per cent of the basic pay, with effect from October one, 2007.

The demands were put forward in a meeting which took place in Delhi today, a release said.

The payment of interim relief should be subject to the condition if any public sector undertaking (PSU) gives more than 15 per cent inclusive of dearness allowance (DA), the same enhanced rate should be made applicable to port and dock workers also.

All India Port and Dock Workers Federation President S R Kulkarni cautioned the port authorities and the Government that if their legitimate claim for interim relief is not accepted, they would revert to their original demand that interim relief should be paid at the rate of 25 per cent of basic pay plus dearness allowance.

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