Strike paralyses Dar es Salaam port
Container handling by the Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS) at the Dar es Salaam port on Tuesday came to standstill after the firm's employees' went on strike , TSN Daily News reports.
The strike led to congestion at the port and traffic jam along Mandela Expressway as hundreds of trucks with local and transit cargo and other vehicles were stranded for many hours.
Until late in the evening, the Dock Workers' Union of Tanzania (DOWUTA) and the TICTS management were holding a meeting to resolve disputes that made employees to lay down tools.
A survey at the port found that apart from the trucks which obstructed movement of other vehicles, five ships were at outer anchorage and two were waiting for their turn to offload.
The employees are blaming TICTS management for failing to honour some terms contained in their employment contracts including purchase of company shares and failure to pay them bonuses for the last eight years.
The workers also demand the management to narrow the difference paid on various allowances.
"If all our claims will never be solved, it is better for the management to resign and leave their positions to more competent leadership," said one employee.
Available statistics show that after the abolition of the TICTS monopoly that currently handle between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of the cargo, the port's container handling efficiency improved by 16 per cent in 2010/11, with dwelling time reduced to around 10 days from 24 days few years ago.
The Tanzania Shipping Agents Association (TASAA) Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Mallya, said the laying down of tools by the TICTS workers will adversely affect the economy because about 70 per cent of the goods are containerized thus hitting hard the ultimate consumer.
When the port operations are disrupted, a number of stakeholders including shipping agencies, container handling companies, clearing agents, customs and transporters are affected.
"The final consumer will bear the burden of the rising cargo handling charges as the ship's dwelling time increases," he said.
The charges for single day for which a ship is delayed in the schedule ranges between 15,000 and 20,000 dollars a day.
The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Mr Walid Juma, said the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) that licensed TICTS should swiftly intervene to reduce the effect of the strike on the economy.
The strike led to congestion at the port and traffic jam along Mandela Expressway as hundreds of trucks with local and transit cargo and other vehicles were stranded for many hours.
Until late in the evening, the Dock Workers' Union of Tanzania (DOWUTA) and the TICTS management were holding a meeting to resolve disputes that made employees to lay down tools.
A survey at the port found that apart from the trucks which obstructed movement of other vehicles, five ships were at outer anchorage and two were waiting for their turn to offload.
The employees are blaming TICTS management for failing to honour some terms contained in their employment contracts including purchase of company shares and failure to pay them bonuses for the last eight years.
The workers also demand the management to narrow the difference paid on various allowances.
"If all our claims will never be solved, it is better for the management to resign and leave their positions to more competent leadership," said one employee.
Available statistics show that after the abolition of the TICTS monopoly that currently handle between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of the cargo, the port's container handling efficiency improved by 16 per cent in 2010/11, with dwelling time reduced to around 10 days from 24 days few years ago.
The Tanzania Shipping Agents Association (TASAA) Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Mallya, said the laying down of tools by the TICTS workers will adversely affect the economy because about 70 per cent of the goods are containerized thus hitting hard the ultimate consumer.
When the port operations are disrupted, a number of stakeholders including shipping agencies, container handling companies, clearing agents, customs and transporters are affected.
"The final consumer will bear the burden of the rising cargo handling charges as the ship's dwelling time increases," he said.
The charges for single day for which a ship is delayed in the schedule ranges between 15,000 and 20,000 dollars a day.
The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Mr Walid Juma, said the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) that licensed TICTS should swiftly intervene to reduce the effect of the strike on the economy.