PONDA: Around 25 BSNL contract workers led by MGP leader Ketan Bhatikar on Thursday protested in front of BSNL office at Ponda over non-payment of their nine-month salary by the contractor.
They threatened to go on strike if their salary is not cleared and demanded that considering their hard work the salary should be hiked to Rs 20,000 per month.
They claimed that their salary amounting to Rs 25 lakh is outstanding for nine months and due to this, their families are suffering.
The BSNL workers said many of them are working for 18 years and claimed that they have not been paid their salary for the past nine months.
The workers further claimed that they were receiving Rs 18,000 per month and alleged that the contractor now wanted to lower their salary to Rs 12,000 per month without any reason.
Bhatikar alleged that some BSNL officers, who are hand in glove with the contractor, are behind non-payment of salary to 25 BSNL workers. This situation is not only in Ponda but also in other BSNL offices across Goa.
He informed that after questioning, the contractor paid salaries of few workers, but many are still waiting for their salary. Bhatikar said he will not allow injustice as workers have families and children, who are dependent on them.
He said BSNL should clear their salaries without any further delay.
