the goan I network
VASCO
Several ordinary grade staff associated with the Indian Navy on Friday morning agitated over new recruitments.
Around 70 employees registered under the Goa Naval Employees Union (GNEU) and affiliated to all Indian Defence Employees Federation said the Navy has already begun the recruitment process and threatened a strike if it not withdraw the same.
The employees agitated outside the main gate of the headquarters of Goa Naval Area and Naval Aviation at Vasco on Friday.
GNEU President Deepak Sawant said the Indian Navy should promote the existing staff before recruiting staff of higher grade. “Our demand is employees who are already in service must be given Grade 2 status and the Navy can then get new ordinary grade recruits.”
“If there is any scope for vacancy or promotion, then staff who have already worked should be given first preference. The Navy is already trying to hold exams for Grade 2 scale recruits and is not bothered about the 30-40 ordinary grade scale staff in service.”
“We have no issues with recruitment but the present staff of ordinary grade should be promoted to Grade 2 first before hiring new recruits directly on Grade 2 scale,” said Sawant. GNEU Vice President Praveen Mandrekar said employees would be forced to go on a strike if the Navy did not stop the recruiting process of Grade 2 category staff.
“Grade 2 recruitment has been done despite having staff of ordinary grade who are already in service for several years. We have approached the high court and despite the case being filed, the Navy is not willing to stop the recruiting process.”
“They have gone ahead with the recruitment process and exams are scheduled in February. We have protested so that recruitments can be stopped till the time high court does not come out with a decision.”
“We have also had many correspondence with the higher-ups through our union but they are not willing to hear us and hence we are protesting today. We will have to go for a demonstration next and finally a strike if the recruitment process is not stopped,” warned Mandrekar.
GNEU General Secretary S N Bayali requested for the promotion of staff who had already offered their services for many years. “Staff who have worked for seven years have not got promoted and we request promotions for departmental staff,” said Bayali.
