Pharma unit workers on strike since June 26
TEAM HERALD
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PONDA: The Goa Trade Union’s Confederation (GTUC) has threatened to shut down the Kundaim Industrial Estate (KIE) to protest the alleged inaction by government authorities to solve the problems faced by workers employed in industrial units at KIE. GTUC, an alliance of about 18 worker unions from the State, on Monday alleged that the government is yet to resolve issues concerning the working class which has now forced workers to agitate.
The GTUC has decided to take up the ongoing issue of about 160 permanent workers of a pharmaceutical company at Kundaim Industrial Estate and also has plans for similar agitation in rest of the industrial units in the State.
It may be recalled that employees of the pharmaceutical unit at Kundaim are on indefinite strike since June 26 against the management’s decision to appoint contract workers in the production department. The workers also demand signing of the demands settlement between the workers and the company before the Labour Commissioner.
According to workers union, the pharmaceutical company exports life-saving drugs to several countries and as such appointing contract workers in the production department will risk the qualitative aspect of the product.
“The management transferred five permanent employees at its Gujarat plant, while four employees have been suspended after we raised objection to the contract system. This is nothing but harassment and such a management decision is unacceptable,” Shailesh Borkar, a suspended employee, said during a press briefing in Ponda.
“We had high hopes that the Labour Commissioner would take up our matter seriously, but it has not happened,” stated Borkar.
GTUC Convenor Adv Ajitsingh Rane said, “The government is giving us step-motherly treatment and if issue pertaining to the pharmaceutical unit is not solved then the agitation will begin from July 3.”
“On Wednesday evening, about 2,500 workers will participate in the protest rally at Kundaim Industrial Estate and later a public meeting at Kundaim gate. We will confront the government officers concerned,” he said.
“If the authorities still do not act, then we will be forced to shut down the whole Kundaim Industrial Estate for a day and for this we have support of workers and people. Time has come for a qualitative rather than quantitative agitation and we hope that workers will get justice,” said Adv Rane.
