Seamen union defers strike on HC intervention

Forward Seamen Union of India (FSUI) has today deferred its one-day token strike to December 13 following an intervention by Mumbai High Court.

The labour union had called the strike on November 25 to protest against the apathy shown by the government to recoup the Rs 100 crore loss suffered by the Seamen Provident Fund (SPF) in 2002.

"We are deferring the strike and we welcome the decision of the court asking the government to make commitment of recouping the money lost and repaying it with interest," said Naresh Birwadkar, FSUI Secretary.

Earlier, Indian National Shipowners' Association (INSA) had dragged the seamen union to High Court for calling a strike as it would cause heavy loss to the shipping industry. They were not party to the SPF scam.

A senior INSA executive welcomed the decision of High Court and deferring of strike by FSUI. FSUI has warned that it would go on an indefinite strike from December 5 if the government continues its inaction.

According to FSUI General Secretary Sadhan Kanjilal, the proposed strike also aims to increase the interest rate of seamen provident fund from 5.5 per cent to 9.5 per cent.