Team Herald
VASCO: The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) workers on Thursday threatened to go on strike if their two months pending salaries are not disbursed by Monday, March 7.
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The decision to go on strike was taken after the MMC Workers Union Secretary Anil Shirodkar met MMC Chairperson Damodar Kaskar and Chief Officer Jayant Tari and requested them to release two months pending salary to its staff and workers.
After the meeting, Shirodkar said that the patience of the municipal workers was running out and had come to a break point after working silently without salary for the last two months.
He alleged that the government officials such as Secretary (Urban) Development were not concerned about the plight of workers, who collect garbage everyday to keep the Mormugao town clean.
Stating that the delay in salary to workers has now become a regular issue in the MMC, Shirodkar said that the MMC chairperson has told him that the council has applied for diversion of development grants to temporarily clear salaries and that the matter is pending for approval.
He said that the chairperson also assured him that the salaries of workers would be disbursed by Monday.
Besides, clearing two months salaries, Shirodkar also demanded that the MMC should provide staff their dues and arrears as per the recommendation of the Seventh Pay Commission.
The union leader demanded that the municipalities should be given the right to collect Octroi since municipality are facing difficulties in clearing salaries to workers.
He pointed out that due to no salaries, many workers were facing problems to repay loan instalments and the banks could impose double interest and penalties if they default in repayment.
