River transport workers threaten non-stop strike
River transport workers have threatened indefinite strike from Friday midnight if their 22-point demand including new pay scale is not met by today.
On March 15 the workers went on a non-stop strike to realise their demands. However, they called off the work stoppage following an understanding reached at a tripartite meeting between representatives of the government, owners and workers on March 18.
Joint secretary of the Vessel Workers Federation Abul Kashem Master said it was agreed at the meeting that a uniform pay scale for all workers based on national pay scale-2009 will be announced and implemented by April 30.
Although the representatives of the government and owners held meetings four times since then, they failed to announce the new pay scale, he added.
Another meeting between the government and vessel owners is scheduled to be held today.
Kashem said if the meeting fails to produce any positive result, they will be compelled to go for indefinite strike across the country from Friday midnight.
To realise the demands, the river transport workers enforced indefinite work stoppage five times in the last two years.
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