All Goa Municipal Employees Union President Keshav Prabhu and Shivaji Kamble along with other officer bearers while speaking to media persons.
MAPUSA
The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) Employees Association has decided to proceed on an indefinite strike from Friday, after accusing the council of failing to fulfil its 19-point charter of demands.
Efforts are in progress to prevent the strike as it could severely disrupt life in Mapusa town ahead of the Diwali festivities.
Notice of the strike was submitted to the MMC chairperson, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Deputy District Commissioner and Mapusa Police on Thursday evening.
A hearing before the Assistant Labour Commissioner also ended without any amicable solution, prompting the MMC Employees Union to proceed on an indefinite strike from Friday.
Assistant Labour Commissioner Milind Govekar discussed the charter of demands at a meeting on Thursday evening, which was attended by MMC Chairperson Shubhangi Vaingankar, Vice-Chairperson Chandrashekhar Benkar, All Goa Municipal Employees Union President Keshav Prabhu, Tayo Gadekar, Mapusa Municipal Council Employee Association’s President Shivaji Kambli and others. MMC Chief Officer Amitesh Shirvaikar was not present at the meeting.
MMC Chairperson Shubhangi Vaingankar said the council has convened a meeting on October 31 to discuss the charter of demands of MMC employees.
“We are serious about the issues of our employees and we have convened a meeting to discuss their demands. But the employees have already decided to go on a strike and this is their decision. There was a hearing before the Assistant Labour Commissioner and we tried to persuade the employees, but they were not in a mood to listen,” said Vaigankar.
On the other hand, the employees union claimed that they were compelled to proceed on the indefinite strike as action was not taken on their charter of demands within the time-frame.
During the hearing, Keshav Prabhu and Shivaji Kamble declared that this is a fight for their rights and they would go on strike from Friday.
“Citizens of Mapusa are worried that if the MMC employees go on strike during the Diwali festival, the city would face a grave issue in managing garbage. However, we are forced to take this decision on an indefinite strike, because of the adamant behaviour of the MMC,” said Prabhu.
Shivaji Kambli stated the employees had postponed an earlier strike on the request of Assistant Labour Commissioner so that citizens do not face inconvenience.
“However, the MMC chairperson ignored our warning and had assured that the issue would be discussed in the MMC meeting. So proceeded on a symbolic strike by wearing black bands on our arm, but our demands fell on deaf ear and so, we are now compelled to take action,” said Kambli.
KEY DEMANDS OF MMC STAFF
* Medical allowance to be increased from Rs 6,000 to 8,000
* Employee and family members should get treatment at GMC
* If treatment is not available at GMC, they should be treated in private hospital and the MMC should take the responsibility of paying the bills for such treatment
* Garbage, flag hoisting, raincoat allowance, housing scheme, scholarships for the children of MMC employees
Efforts are in progress to prevent the strike as it could severely disrupt life in Mapusa town ahead of the Diwali festivities.
Notice of the strike was submitted to the MMC chairperson, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Deputy District Commissioner and Mapusa Police on Thursday evening.
A hearing before the Assistant Labour Commissioner also ended without any amicable solution, prompting the MMC Employees Union to proceed on an indefinite strike from Friday.
Assistant Labour Commissioner Milind Govekar discussed the charter of demands at a meeting on Thursday evening, which was attended by MMC Chairperson Shubhangi Vaingankar, Vice-Chairperson Chandrashekhar Benkar, All Goa Municipal Employees Union President Keshav Prabhu, Tayo Gadekar, Mapusa Municipal Council Employee Association’s President Shivaji Kambli and others. MMC Chief Officer Amitesh Shirvaikar was not present at the meeting.
MMC Chairperson Shubhangi Vaingankar said the council has convened a meeting on October 31 to discuss the charter of demands of MMC employees.
“We are serious about the issues of our employees and we have convened a meeting to discuss their demands. But the employees have already decided to go on a strike and this is their decision. There was a hearing before the Assistant Labour Commissioner and we tried to persuade the employees, but they were not in a mood to listen,” said Vaigankar.
On the other hand, the employees union claimed that they were compelled to proceed on the indefinite strike as action was not taken on their charter of demands within the time-frame.
During the hearing, Keshav Prabhu and Shivaji Kamble declared that this is a fight for their rights and they would go on strike from Friday.
“Citizens of Mapusa are worried that if the MMC employees go on strike during the Diwali festival, the city would face a grave issue in managing garbage. However, we are forced to take this decision on an indefinite strike, because of the adamant behaviour of the MMC,” said Prabhu.
Shivaji Kambli stated the employees had postponed an earlier strike on the request of Assistant Labour Commissioner so that citizens do not face inconvenience.
“However, the MMC chairperson ignored our warning and had assured that the issue would be discussed in the MMC meeting. So proceeded on a symbolic strike by wearing black bands on our arm, but our demands fell on deaf ear and so, we are now compelled to take action,” said Kambli.
KEY DEMANDS OF MMC STAFF
* Medical allowance to be increased from Rs 6,000 to 8,000
* Employee and family members should get treatment at GMC
* If treatment is not available at GMC, they should be treated in private hospital and the MMC should take the responsibility of paying the bills for such treatment
* Garbage, flag hoisting, raincoat allowance, housing scheme, scholarships for the children of MMC employees
