Coal news and updates

CIL unions gear up for long-drawn battle

October 28: Peeved at the new Ordinance brought in by the coal ministry, the five trade unions of Coal India Ltd (CIL) are gearing up for a “long-drawn battle” that may see a series of industrial actions and agitations starting November, a senior union leader told ICMW.

“Through this Ordinance, the government has sent a clear signal about its intention to open the door to privatisation. This will not only affect the mine workers, but also be devastating for the economy,” the union leader said.

To thwart the move, he said the unions are going to hold a series of programmes through the next three months.

“The unions are going to meet at Ranchi on October 31. We will hold a nation-wide dharna on November 5-7. There will also be similar actions in December and January,” he said.

The workers of Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) will join the protest rallies and agitations, he added.