New Delhi: Five major trade unions representing 60,000 port and dock workers have threaten to go on indefinite strike from 15 September after wage negotiations with representatives of 11 major ports broke down here on Wednesday, trade union members said.

The 24-member joint bipartite wage negotiation committee, which has equal number of representatives from the management and five trade unions, met for the 20th time time to revise wages, but after more than two years of negotiations, no settlement appears to be in sight. The unions refused to accept the management’s offer of 18% hike over previous basic pay and 78.2% dearness allowance. Unions want basic pay to be increased by 34%.

The wage committee, appointed by the ministry of shipping, was set up in February 2007. “While the executives are already getting 30% salary hike, there’s no justification asking to agree for 18% for workers, “said Manohar Bellani, secretary of All India Port and Workers’ Federation, which is affiliated to national trade union Hind Mazdoor Sabha.