Growing unrest among some 5,000 workers in Chittagong Port has doubled turnaround time and fuelled surcharges, said users.
The workers demand more power, while the port users blame the eroding efficiency of the premier port on the power to the dockworkers.
The latest spate of unrest came last Sunday when the dockers launched a 10-day agitation programme, including a strike, asking implementation of the decisions made regarding their earlier demands. However, they called off the programme next day.
They demanded the reinstatement of the dockworkers fired during the last caretaker government regime, the employing of labourers by rotation through a booking centre under Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), the reintroduction of the labour department, and the opening of closed residential buildings.
“If a vessel's turnaround time could be 2.4 days during the caretaker government, why not now?” said MA Salam, a leader of Chittagong Port Users Forum and acting president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He said the CPA should tighten its grip and ensure accountability.
Khairul Alam Suzan, an importer, said: “The workers demand money at every point.”
"If we don't pay, they start delaying."
The average turnaround time has increased to five to six days now from the caretaker government's average 2.4 days, port officials said. The turnaround time was more than 10 days before the caretaker government launched a reform drive.
The port users blame the port management for its soft approach to the workers.
“The CPA is working to activate the central booking cell by empowering the workers' leaders. The port users strongly oppose the step," said Ahsanul Huq Chowdhury, the immediate past chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents' Association.
He said the workers should continue under the berth operators to maintain peaceful and efficient services.
The caretaker government dissolved the Dock Workers Management Board that was comprised of more than 10,000 workers from 22 politically associated trade unions, and stevedores. The previous government also sacked over 4,000 workers mainly for their overage and inefficiency.
The government introduced a single-point operation system, replacing the 21-year old stevedoring system on May 16, 2007, and retrenched 4,000 workers to bring efficiency to the port.
But a three-year contract with the berth operators ended on May 16 this year, and the workers started regrouping again to reinstate the sacked workers.
CPA acting Chairman Md Nazrul Islam admitted that the turnaround time has increased.
He said the government has to consider the welfare of both the workers and businessmen, and discussions are going on with all to resolve the problem.
The port users suggested the berth operators control the workers.
"If we are forced to engage an unnecessary number of workers, we will have to stop work and leave the port," said Ahsanul Huq Chowdhury. Putting the workers and staff under the CPA means going back to the past, he added.
Source: thedailystar.net
