PANJIM: Trouble with Nestle’s factory in Bicholim began much before their product, Maggie was pulled off the shelves. Though they’d shut operations in Goa, there were several employees that claim that were removed from their jobs.
The Nestle Contract Workers Union registered under the Trade Union Act 1926, said their demand to acknowledge the union has been a battle they were waging since 2013.
The workers while protesting on Monday at Azad Maidan in Panjim also said they were not paid for over a year.
“Our salaries have not been given to us, the company is not willing to take the Union into consideration and are telling us to join another union if we want to be heard. They are trying everything in their power to stop this union we have registered as per the law,” said Anand Shirodkar, president of the union.
He said that back in 2013, two union heads were faced with a police case while 18 others were removed from their jobs without any warning. He also added that the company owed workers approximately Rs 60 lakh in payment and benefits.
The workers have written to the Governor, Chief Minister, Labour minister, Labour and Employment Commissioner, the North Goa Collector and the Director General of Police highlighting their issues. They have also taken to creating awareness among the public in Bicholim and have decided to go on a strike every two days at Azad Maidan.
“If the government doesn’t listen to us, we will have to resort to an indefinite hunger strike to have our demands heard,” said Shirodkar.
In their letter to the government officials, the union wrote, “This company in fact is also doing sheer injustice on the entire body of contract workmen by refusing to pay them their rightful dues and other monetary as well as service-related benefits against the background of failure of the company management/employer to scientifically as well as legally manage the affairs of its business and also by criminally intimidating these contract workmen to leave the job by taking so called one-time settlement being forced on them.”
