SHILLONG: The Meghalaya EMRI Workers Union (MEMRIWU) warned that they will resort to protests following the indifferent attitude of the GVK management and the state government towards their charter of demands.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, president of EMRI union, Roipar Kharraswai said, “We will intensify our agitation but we will sit and discuss the matter.”
He said that the Union members had organised a rally and black flag march, boycotted the report and training, sit-in demonstration and said that the members began with peaceful forms of protest.
Informing of the last meeting between the state government and GVK management, he said there was an assurance to fulfill the charter of demands put forth by the union.
He informed that the two months deadline was over on September 22 but there was no effort to work on the charter of demands.
Kharraswai said that the GVK management did not maintain any status quo and deducted the salary of 70 members of the union which was met with stiff opposition. He said, “We condemn this act of the GVK management. Why did they deduct the salary? The government has not intervened in the matter. The management should refund the money.”
He added that the deduction was made in the month of July and August and their salary were deducted to the tune of Rs 5000, Rs 1300 and in August it was Rs 120 –Rs 130.
Irked at the GVK management, he said that the state government should set up a separate Emergency Cell and to snap ties with the GVK management.
He said that there were 15 field staffs who were anti-union who chose to support the GVK management which is a strategy to divide the staff of 108.
Another executive member of the union from Garo Hills, Sabita D. Sangma said the 108 ambulances in Garo Hills were in bad condition with no proper equipment in the vehicle.
She said that the vehicles would have to be sent to Goalpara from Tura for maintenance as the workshops in Tura are unwilling to make further maintenance due to the pending bills.
Stating that the government should address the grievances of the 108 staff, she said that the lack of manpower had sapped the strength of the staff as they were struggling to take leave due to them.
Marak also said that the salary of the staff should be as per the educational qualification, skills and experience.