Zuari workers to block NH17 against workers' retrenchment
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 03 May 2013 22:34 IST
Christoper Fonseca on Zuari Industries
The All India Trade Union Congress has threatened to block National Highway 17 if the Zuari Industries continue replacing its contract workers with new workers from outside Goa.
Addressing a press conference, trade union leader Christopher Fonseca said the Zuari Industries has replaced almost 800 contract workers till date since December last year.
Fonseca informed that 82-day long dharna at the Labour Commissioner’s office in Panaji had culminated into a settlement brought in by chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
“After stopping the replacement for a few days to honour the assurance given to the chief minister, the company has once again started the process of replacement”, he alleged.
According to him, Zuari Industries has been sending the existing contract workers home and getting alternate workforce from outside Goa.
He has thus served an ultimatum of seven days to stop harassment to contract workers, failing which the workers would block the national highway.
Raju Mangeshkar, joint secretary of AITUC, demanded that the Communidade land allotted to Zuari Industries be taken back by the government, if the company cannot protect interest of the locals.
Goa Yuva Kranti Sena leader Pratap Mardolkar was also present at the press conference.
