VASCO
Tension prevailed at a shipyard in Mormugao late Tuesday evening when about 260 workers allegedly confined around 80 officers in the shipyard premises over non-payment of their salaries.
According to the workers, the company had not paid their salaries for last several months and it was only after political intervention that the management paid the salary of two months. The workers said the management had assured them to clear their balance salaries by April end, but the company failed to live up to their assurance.
“Previous salary of three months and current four months till April, total salary of seven months is pending. We find it very difficult to meet our expenses and the new academic year of our children is starting in June and we don't have any savings to meet the expenses,” said a worker.
“The government is also dragging its feet over the issue and is not ready to solve the problem once and for all,” added the worker.
The workers further said other political parties are only taking mileage of the issue.
“Our union leader Ajitsingh Rane, who rushed to the yard at about 11 pm, held discussion with the management and at about 2 am the management assured to pay the salaries by May 10,” added the worker.
“We will wait till May 10 and if management fails to live up to its assurance, then we will not hesitate to go on indefinite strike,” warned the worker.
When contacted, Mormugao PI Kapil Nayak said after getting information, he along with his team rushed to the site to release the officers. “The officers informed that they were not confined, but stayed back to support the workers,” said PI Nayak.
Efforts to contact union leader Ajitsingh Rane proved futile, as his mobile phone was out of coverage area.
