Achievements

Achievements of ASSRGWA

The most important development in favour of the workers in this period was its recognition as a scheduled industry, which in fact opened up more opportunities for the union in terms of wage negotiation. One of the commendable efforts made by the union regarding wages for workers is the representation they made to the Government. The union took up the matter of minimum wages for workers in shipbreaking in Alang to the Government of Gujarat and Government of India. For instance, the union made a demand for inclusion of “the employment in ship breaking activities” in the Schedule to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 to the Government of Gujarat. Another example, which is worth mentioning in this context is the efforts made by ASSRGWA for the family of four workers who lost their lives in a fire occurred at Plot No 24-0, Ship breaking yard, Alang on 4th August 2009. The union took up the matter with several appropriate official authorities. Letters for requesting commissioning of inquiry was sent by ASSRGWA on Aug 7, 2009 to the Chief Minister and Chief Justice, High Court of Gujarat and to the Inspector of Factories, Ship Recycling Yard Alang. Given the hazardous working conditions in the ship breaking yards, non-compliance of safety norms by the employers and non-applicability of the statutory norms by the statutory authorities resulting in frequent accidents and injuries and to take cognizance of the incident where attempts were been made to hush up the present case. The Union requested for a fair inquiry to be conducted by the Chief Inspector, Factories; to constitute a Commission of Judicial Inquiry for providing justice to the families of the deceased and other injured workers to the Chief Minister, State of Gujarat and to the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India to take necessary judicial inquiry and reiterated the Supreme Court judgment of 11.09.2007 Writ Petition (Civil) 657 of 1995 dealing with strict regulation of ship breaking activities, ensuring protection of health and safety of workmen. All necessary support to this regard was extended by the Union to facilitate providing justice to the workers in Ship Breaking yards of Alang.
• Organised medical examination camps and blood grouping camps for the benefits of shipbreaking workers and members of their families.
• Awareness campaigns were carried out for massive groups of workers on the subject of Occupational health and safety /Union building and organisation/ HIV/ AIDS and other diseases, International Guidelines of the ILO, IMO and Basel Convention and The Supreme Court of India’s directions on safe ship recycling, workers’ rights and human rights; the national and international trade union movement.
• Created local leadership to handle grievances.
• Struggle for the provision of protective gear for the workers.
• Achieved compensation for death of the worker at site, which can be a precedence for the years to come.
• The impact of the union activities is strong in three key areas. These are i) created a sense of confidence among workers by unionisation, ii) bringing visibility and iii) building collective voice of the workers. These impacts may not be measureable in quantitative terms as impacts, but are important to highlight in this context.
• The awareness is being created on the subject of health, safety, welfare and environment besides legal system for protection of human rights.
• Improvement in occupational health & safety, employers are now providing PPE’s to shipbreaking workers.
• Employers are now providing potable drinking water at workplaces.
• Provision of first aid boxes at workplaces.
• Employers and their contractors are now recognizing the union.
• Union is getting stronger day by day as government authorities are coordinating with the Union. For example, the safety instruction film and safety diary have been used by the training centre of Gujarat Maritime Board.
• The Government Authorities and the ship breaking yard owners have also recognised the presence of the union in many ways ranging from discussion to improving the working conditions at Alang.
• There is improvement in working conditions at Alang shipbreaking yard.
• Liaison with enforcement authorities resulted in timely payment of provident fund dues and registration of shipbreaking workers under the scheme of Employee State Insurance Scheme.
• Local leaders from Alang are in position to raise Industrial Dispute with Department of Labour and they are confidently handling the grievances.
• It was also due to the efforts of the Union the ship breaking industry has also been included in the IndustriALL ship building action group and the Vice-Chairman is from the ship breaking industry.
• The shipbreaking workers respond very well to our appeal to them for organizing themselves and participating in the activities for their welfare.
• The shipbreaking workers now have elementary knowledge in respect of OHS, HIV/AIDS, functioning of Trade Union, functioning of IndustriALL, ILO, leadership, coordination and their involvement in union activities.
• The influence of antisocial elements is also gradually reducing because of the active presence of union members at Alang.
• The middlemen between the employers and shipbreaking workers are also likely to disappear from the scene soon and efforts are already made in this direction.
• Workers are now openly sharing their views and ventilating the grievances in the gate meetings, seminars and rallies. .