With the State government issuing a prohibitory order ban ning a strike by Goa Dairy employees scheduled at midnight on November 10, the dairy workers have declared that they will proceed with the strike to protest the unaddressed demands and assured the public that milk supply will remain uninterrupted. It may be recalled that the workers had staged a rally and ‘dharnas’ on October 1, at the Ponda bus stand. The employ ees, led by union leaders Puti Gaonkar and Christo pher Fonseca, demanded the immediate payment of pending Dearness Al lowances (DA) and other long-standing demands. Workers asserted that the denial of these rights is an injustice to them and their families, noting that the Goa Dairy management ig nored their demands. The State government prohibitory order states: “Gov ernment of Goa, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Goa Essential Ser vices Maintenance Act, 1988 (Goa Act No. 20 of 1989) and being satisfied that in the public interest it is necessary so to do, hereby prohibits strike of any form in Dairy Sector related to procurement, production, transportation, dis tribution and retail supply of milk and milk products in the State of Goa with immediate effect. This order shall be valid for a period of six months from the date of issue.”
Goa Government Bans Goa Dairy Strike Under ESMA; Workers Vow to Continue Protest
