Shipping secretary holds talks with TU leaders

KOCHI: The leaders of the trade unions at the Cochin Port on Friday held discussions with Union Shipping Secretary K Mohandas regarding various issues faced by the port.The union leaders have urged the Shipping Secretary to take steps for providing Rs 150 crore as grant to the port to overcome the present financial crisis.They have also urged him to solve the standoff between the Customs and the special economic zone regarding the operation of the two agencies at the International Container Transshipment Terminal, Vallarpadam.“Relaxation should be introduced in cabotage law, if it is necessary for the development of business at the ICTT,” the leaders demanded.Cochin Port Employees Organisation president K Chandran Pillai, labour trustees P M Mohammed Haneef and C D Nandakumar, union secretary P B Muthu, Cochin Port Staff Assn secretary Thomas Sebastian and treasurer Ganesh Prabhu attended.