At least 600-odd lifeguards in Goa today ended their fortnight long strike following assurance by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to fulfill their demands.
"We have suspended the strike after (state) Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar and BJP MLA Michael Lobo addressed the protestors assuring to fulfil their demands. Parulekar specifically told us that he had come with the message from the chief minister to withdraw the strike," Suhas Naik, leader of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) which was spearheading the strike, told PTI.
Agitating lifeguards had struck work from last week of December demanding regularisation in service and minimum wages.
Drishti lifesaving Services Private Limited, an agency which was contracted with the work of lifeguarding on beaches, had refused to given into the demands of the agitators.
Naik said since contract for the company is awarded by state Tourism department, lifeguards come under the purview of the department.
The lifeguards will report to their beach station from tomorrow as the minister has already assured to rise their salary by Rs 2,500 per month, reinstate 17 lifeguards who were suspended from services by February 15, 2016 and also no action would be taken against lifeguards for striking work, the AITUC leader said.
He said the salary for the period of strike would also be paid by the company and a committee would be formed to study whether lifeguards can be regularised in services.
Parulekar has also assured that there will be continuity in service for lifeguards and they will have a fixed age for retirement, Naik stated.
State Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the government will ensure that all the promises are fulfilled.
"The lifeguards should resume services by tomorrow," he told PTI.
The union leaders who claimed that the assurance by government was success of the unity shown by the lifeguards said, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo played a major role in brokering peace.
We are also thankful to Chief Minister Laxmikant parsekar, Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, Congress MLAs Vishwajit Rane and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and independent legislator Vijai Sardessai who brought up the issue during ongoing State Legislative Assembly session, they said.
