VASCO: United Mine Workers Union affiliated to the Goa Rajya Kamgar Mahasangh held protest rally on Tuesday against the alleged tyranny by the Chowgule mining company. The Chowgule has retrenched over 350 workers earlier. The workers have warned of indefinite strike if the Chowgule doesn’t recall its retrenchment order.

Prakash Naik, a Costi Mine worker, said, “We have been retrenched from the Chowgule Shigao mine from July 24. We had requested the Chowgule company to keep us on hold for some days but they said that they won’t after the Supreme Court verdict.” 

“We have come to protest demanding reversal of the retrenchment and start our payment again. How will the worker make a living without any salary? Take back the no work no pay clause,” Prakash demanded.

“By the first week of November the government is expected to give a solution; we are requesting the company to wait till the time government takes its stand,” demanded yet another worker. 

“Costi, Shigao and Pale mine workers are in trouble. Pay them until the government decision is out. Chaturthi is a festival dear to all Goans and we request the Chowgule to at least think about us and our family,” requested a protestor. 

Puti Gaonkar of United Mine Workers Union said, “The company can easily pay salary for the next one year, out of the sale of two or three shipments of ore after the ban period.”

Puti Gaonkar further said that ore was extracted in three shifts after the ban was imposed. “We are only demanding what is rightfully belongs to the workers,” he said.

“All the mining companies retained their employees and only Chowgule company retrenched its employees. Even after the Central Labour Commissioner rejected the retrenchment, the management is adamant on removing these 350 workers. If they don’t listen, we will sit on indefinite strike. We are working towards getting them the mining concessions, but the company is hell bent on retrenching the workers,” Gaonkar complained.