United Mine Workers Union affiliated to the Goa Rajya Kamgar Mahasangh held a protest rally recently against the Chowgule mining company. The company had retrenched over 350 workers earlier. The workers have warned of indefinite strike if Chowgule doesn’t recall its retrenchment order. According to Prakash Naik, a Costi Mine worker, “We have been retrenched from the Chowgule Shigao mine from July 24. We had requested the Chowgule Company to keep us on hold for some days, but refused to do so after the Supreme Court verdict.” “We have come to protest demanding reversal of the retrenchment and start our payments again. How will the workers make a living without any salary? Take back the ‘no work no pay’ clause,” Prakash added. “By the first week of November the government is expected to provide a solution. We are requesting the company to wait until the government takes its stand,” demanded yet another worker.
“Costi Shigao and Pale mine workers are in trouble. Pay them until the government decision is out. Chaturthi is a festival dear to all Goans and we request the Chowgule company to at least think about us and our family,” requested a protestor.
Puti Gaonkar of United Mine Workers Union said, “The company can easily pay salary for the next one year, out of the sale of two or three shipments of ore after the ban period.” He further said that ore was extracted in three shifts after the ban was imposed in February this year. “We are only demanding what rightfully belongs to the workers,” he said.
“All mining companies have retained their employees and only the Chowgule company has retrenched its employees. Even after the Central Labour Commissioner rejected the retrenchment, the management was adamant on removing these 350 workers. If they don’t relent, we will hold an indefinite strike. We are working towards getting them the mining concessions, but the company is hell bent on retrenching the workers,” Gaonkar added
