GVK, a company which has been given the contract to provide ambulance facilities to the Goa state government, suspended its five staff members today after a section of workers went on strike since yesterday.
"GVK initiated disciplinary action against employees who violated provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) by resorting to an illegal strike which severely disrupted emergency response services and caused inconvenience to the community," according to a press note issued by the company.
The workers had surrendered their ambulances to the management yesterday before beginning a protest demanding proper wages and confirmation in service. The workers have continued their protest.
"We will resort to hunger strike until death if our demands are not met," union leader Hridaynath Shirodkar, who has been spearheading the agitation, said, adding that workers are being harassed by the GVK management.
Meanwhile, Goa Health Minister Francis D'Souza said the state government has nothing to do with the matter saying that the issue is between the management and the staff.
