THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
Mormugao Municipal Council staff and contract labourers went on strike outside the MMC building on Monday morning after their salaries for January were not released.
They have warned to continue the strike till their demands are met.
The aggrieved staff and labourers later met Mormugao Council Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes who assured to take up the matter with higher-ups. He appealed to them to get back to work, but workers rejected his request and continued their strike.
A staffer said while they had multiple demands, their main demand was timely payment of salaries.
"We feel ashamed to be on strike so often and we need a permanent solution. Due to irregular salary issues, we face problems on instalments of loans and banks don't cooperate with us.”
“We also have huge overheads and we have to survive and despite working so hard, we don't get salaries on time and this is become a regular issue," complained the worker.
Fernandes admitted that the grievances of the Mormugao Municipal Council staff and labourers are genuine as they face issues due to irregular salaries.
“I have appealed to then to resume work to keep the city clean, but I can't do much if they are adamant not to work till their demands are met. There are a lot of outstanding dues to be recovered and we will now start seal shops to recover the dues.”
“I will write to the government and will ask for special grants to pay salaries and clear the situation, so that the strike can stop and they can get back to work," said Fernandes.
