Consequent upon the failure of the negotiations of the bipartite wage negotiation committee on 15th December, due to recalcitrant attitude of port management, the representatives of all the five recognised federations of Port & Dock Workers who have their representatives on the wage negotiating committee have unanimously decided to mobilise Port and Dock Workers at all the 11 major ports in the country to launch an indefinite all India strike with effect from 18th January 2000 for securing satisfactory settlement of the common charter of demands concerning wage revision and liberalisation in service conditions.

The federations have also decided to observe 29th December 1999 as the All India Protest Day by way of warning to all the parties concerned. On the same day the affiliated unions of the 5 federations will serve the notice of strike to all the Port authorities and Dock Labour Boards.