KOCHI: Nineteen days after the indefinite strike called by the workers unions began at the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), the company has suffered a huge financial loss. The CSL on Saturday announced that the company suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 80 crore. In a statement issued by the CSL, it was pointed out that with nearly 2,000 workers taking part in the strike, the mainstream operations of the shipyard have been affected. The primary dispute was between the Cochin Shipyard Contractors Federation and the Cochin Shipyard Workers Union. Though the CSL is not a direct party to the dispute, it has become the prime affected party. The disputes mainly surround the revision of wages and other terms and conditions of employment of the workers. “The workers union insisted on a substantial increase in their daily wages without any comparison with the prevailing best rates and conditions enjoyed by similar workers in any other industry in the country,” the statement said. The CSL further accused the union for calling for an indefinite strike even when the conciliation talks by the Regional Labour Commissioner were going on. The CSL said the union had been increasing its demands at the meetings. The CSL said that in the latest discussion a consensus was arrived at about almost all issues and disputes pertaining to their original demands. However, the union insisted that unless the CSL gives a commitment to pay the gratuity amount to the contract workers who were engaged by the union sponsored contractors, the strike would not be called off. Though the CSL agreed to address the issue separately, the union did not heed to the request, the statement saidVS asks CSL to end stir Inaugurating a dharna staged by the contract labourers of Cochin Shipyard Limited on Saturday, Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan asked the company management to consider the demands by the workers favourably.
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