The Cochin Port Joint Trade Union Forum has decided to intensify its ongoing agitation into direct industrial action without further notice.

The decision, according to the forum, follows alleged unilateral and arbitrary steps taken by the port management to outsource marine and cargo handling operations. The forum has been staging an indefinite strike against the management’s alleged anti-worker policies since March 16 this year.

The forum has formally appealed to the chairperson of the port to withdraw any proposal to privatise core functions currently performed by regular or port-appointed contract workers.

Raising an alarm over the alleged drastic reduction in the workforce to just 475 regular workers, the forum said the vacancies were not being filled for years, “leading to unbearable workloads, mental stress, and frustration among employees.”

While the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Indian Ports Association remain vigilant in averting labour unrest through timely intervention and dialogue with national federations, the industrial relations environment at the Cochin Port remains alarmingly inefficient. Having already served demand notices, the unions said that the “ball is now in the management’s court” to make proactive intervention or face immediate industrial action, forum chairman Benny Behanan, MP, and general convener Nandakumar C.D. said in a statement.