the goan I network
VASCO
A union leader of Western India Shipyard Ltd (WISL) has threatened to jump into the sea from the WISL berth, if MPT forcibly removes the Floating Dry Dock (FDD) prior to their pending settlements.
Workers along with WISL union leader Alexander Pacheco and trade union leader Ajit Singh Rane spoke to reporters after claiming that their crucial meeting with MPT Chairman I Jeyakumar had been inconclusive on Wednesday evening.
The union claimed that the MPT at an earlier meeting had assured them to re-tender the FDD bid and had asked them to submit their liabilities and a list of workers, so that the new bidder could be requested to absorb workmen of WISL.
“However, the MPT chairman, after listening to all our demands, tried to explain in detail why the port wanted to dispose off the FDD before monsoons. He ended by asking workers point blank if they were willing to cooperate in the removal of FDD or else, MPT would have to work in legal style to remove the FDD,” said trade union leader Ajit Singh Rane.
WISL leader Alexander Pacheco appealed to the state and central governments to help the workers as they were not paid for the last two years.
“If MPT disposes off the FDD without settling us, I will jump into the sea from the WISL berth and will commit suicide. We have a world class Korean investor who is willing to pay more price and will also absorb all of us at work, but somehow nothing is coming to a logical conclusion,” said Pacheco.
“We are disappointed, but we will not allow anyone to touch the FDD till we are settled,” Pacheco added.
