Striking GRES workers to go on fast-unto-death

PANAJI: Workers of Goa employment and recruitment society (GERS) who have been on hunger strike since December 1 have after Tuesday’s public meeting decided to go on a fast-unto-death.
A seven member committee of the society will start the strike on Wednesday at noon, said Ajitsingh Rane, a trade union leader, who is heading the agitation along with Swati Kerkar.
Rane said they had given a long rope to the government, but it has so far refused to fulfill demands of the contract workers to confirm their services.
On Tuesday, contract workers had a public meeting which was attended by Goa pradesh Congress committee (GPCC) president Luizinho Faleiro, Aleixo Lourenco and Pandurang Madkaikar. The independent MLA Naresh Sawal as well as BJP’s St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh also attended the meeting.
A crowd of 300 persons attended the public meeting which was also supported by some NGO members.
Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Monday had appealed to workers on hunger strike to get back to work and that they would be accommodated in the recently formed Goa human resource development corporation (GHRC).
Rane said workers would not go ahead with their strike on Wednesday if the government gives in writing an assurance that they will fulfill their promise. “Even if they give it tomorrow we will withdraw,” he added.
Rane said workers would not go ahead with their strike on Wednesday if the government gives in writing an assurance that they will fulfill their promise.