Team Herald
VASCO: The municipal workers who joined the strike called by the Goa Municipal Employees’ Association (GMEA) will be marked absent for two days, according to Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chief Officer L S R Pereira.
It may be recalled that after reports of a delay in the disbursement of salaries to the municipal staff, GMEA had given Pereira until November 2 to pay the salaries, failing which it would go on strike. The strike was held the same day and called off on Wednesday afternoon, when the workers received their salaries.
“I am confused as to why the daily wage workers had to join the strike. They should have thought about the fact that there were elections and the new council was yet to be formed, and even I had to complete the bank formalities so that I can sign cheques. It is astonishing that instead of supporting the administration, the workers came in the evening, handed over a notice and went on strike the next day. This is not acceptable and will be dealt with an iron hand. Now we have to be harsh with them,” said Pereira.
He continued, “I have new decided to place the issue before the next council as soon as it is formed and take serious action. With the way, the recovery of dues is taking place, even next month we may face difficulties in disbursing the salaries. Instead of working hard to ensure that recovery process is sped up, the employees took such a step. We will also find out who from the permanent staff misled the daily wage workers.”
