Formation of Trade Union movement in Goa (20-1-1962) ___________________________________ On 20-01-1962, workers working in the Mormugao port and dock as winchmen and gangmen directly under various mining companies, gathered in an unprecedented public meeting near Desterro Church, Vasco-da-Gama, elected Comrade Gerald Pereira as their leader, and formed the first trade union of workers in Goa under the leadership of the Red Flag. This startling event took place just one month after Goas Liberation from Portugals colonialism, indicating in retrospect not only the extent of the absolute repression of all civil liberties under Salazars dictatorship, but also indicating simultaneously the extent to which the very much Indian mining companies were in connivance with Salazar to repress their workers and amass super-profits. The workers movement gathered momentum and galvanised other workers in Goa. The mining companies whose sole activity was to export Goas mineral wealth to foreign countries and stash the wealth in Swiss bank accounts, did not take kindly to the workers movement. While the UGP-leaning Church authorities officially began mis-using the pulpits to accuse the working class leaders of being wolf in sheeps clothing, the MGP-led Govt. of Goa began to officially side with the mining companies, and this culminated in the Goa Police firing on unarmed dock workers on 20-12-1964, at the St. Andrews Church square at Vasco-da-Gama, in which two dock workers fell martyrs : Conceicao Da Costa and Thomas Fernandes. This coming December 20th will be the commemoration of 50 years since their supreme sacrifice. The place of their martyrdom was subsequently renamed as Hutatma Chowk. Undaunted by these barbarities, the workers movement marched on. Regular monthly public meetings were conducted at the venue behind the old bus stand at Vasco, which was subsequently renamed as Dr. T.B. Cunha Chowk. On Jan 19, 2014 10:52 PM, Thalmann Pereira wrote: > > Formation of Trade Union > movement in Goa (20-1-1962) > ___________________________________ > > On 20-01-1962, workers working in the Mormugao port and dock as winchmen and gangmen directly under various mining companies, gathered in an unprecedented public meeting near Desterro Church, Vasco-da-Gama, elected Comrade Gerald Pereira as their leader, and formed the first trade union of workers in Goa under the leadership of the Red Flag. > This startling event took place just one month after Goas Liberation from Portugals colonialism, indicating in retrospect not only the extent of the absolute repression of all civil liberties under Salazars dictatorship, but also indicating simultaneously the extent to which the very much Indian mining companies were in connivance with Salazar to repress their workers and amass super-profits. The workers movement gathered momentum and galvanised other workers in Goa. > The mining companies whose sole activity was to export Goas mineral wealth to foreign countries and stash the wealth in Swiss bank accounts, did not take kindly to the workers movement. While the UGP-leaning Church authorities officially began mis-using the pulpits to accuse the working class leaders of being wolf in sheeps clothing, the MGP-led Govt. of Goa began to officially side with the mining companies, and this culminated in the Goa Police firing on unarmed dock workers on 20-12-1964, at the St. Andrews Church square at Vasco-da-Gama, in which two dock workers fell martyrs : Conceicao Da Costa and Thomas Fernandes. > This coming December 20th will be the commemoration of 50 years since their supreme sacrifice. > The place of their martyrdom was subsequently renamed as Hutatma Chowk. Undaunted by these barbarities, the workers movement marched on. Regular monthly public meetings were conducted at the venue behind the old bus stand at Vasco, which was subsequently renamed as Dr. T.B. Cunha Chowk.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 17:37:09 +0000
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