MPT union workers protest against outsourcing of operations

The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) workers on Wednesday, December 15, took out a protest outside the gates of the MPT administrative building at Mormugao.

Goa Port and Dock employee Union along with Mormugao Port and Railway Workers Union protested over the proposed plans of MPT to outsource operations and maintenance of berths 10 and 11 on the Private-Publications Partnership (PPP) model.

Union leader Laxmikant Gaude said the issue was under dispute and hoped that the labour commissioner would intervene to give justice to MPT workers. MPT has already suffered financially by privatising some of the ports. Despite this, the management is holding meetings for public-private partnerships.

"The port management is planning to outsource operations and maintenance of berths 10 and 11 on PPP Mode. The workers will lose their jobs if these berths are outsourced. We will place this issue with the labour commissioner,” said Gaude.

Laxmikant Gawde claimed that the management is proceeding the berths through public-private partnership, despite the fact that MPT owed Rs 153 crore to the port. The management is planning to privatize Western India Shipyard Company and Adani Company in the face of severe financial crisis. MPT owes about Rs 27 crore to Verston India Shipyard and Adani owes Rs 126 crore.

Gawde also informed that the pension association supports the union workers against the management.

President of the Mormugao Port and Railway Worker's Union Cruz Mascarenhas said the issue was deferred but the union wanted the issue to be dropped.

"Around 800 workers could be affected and lose their jobs. This is only a demonstration but if the issue is not resolved, we will go on a strike and get other vendors including stevedores and others and stop all works of the port," said Mascarenhas.