APMC comes to a standstill with mathadis' state-wide strike

The regular buzz at the wholesale agricultural produce market in Vashi was missing on Wednesday, as mathadi workers across the state went on a one-day strike. After a meeting held at Mathadi Bhavan, Vashi on May 23, the Maharashtra State Mathadi Transport and General Kamgar union had called for a strike on May 28.

There was no supply of agricultural produce during the day, as trade unions knew of the protest called by the mathadi workers. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Around 80,000 load-carrying workers at APMC markets across the state, including Navi Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Satara, Nasik, Pune, Kolhapur and Aurangabad participated in the strike, after the government failed to respond to their demands.

Most shops at APMC market, Vashi were closed due to the strike

"After the meeting last week, we had sent a letter to concerned authorities, and the chief minister. However, there was no response from them. So, we went ahead with the proposed strike at APMCs across the state," said an official from the union.

At Vashi's APMC market, most shops at the spice, fruit, vegetables and onion-potato markets were closed. There was no supply of agriculture produce during the day, as the transport union knew about the strike, and only a few trucks made it to the market.

Kirti Rana, the director of APMC, said, "While on any other day, we have around 3,000 trucks entering APMC, today the market came to a standstill. But, still, since the strike is only for a day, the market will work as usual from Thursday."