Coal news and updates

CIL workers unions to go ahead with 1-day strike on November 24

As discussions with Coal India management did not make much headway today, the workers' unions has decided to go ahead with proposed one-day strike on November 24, four trade unions said in a joint statement.

Coal India (CIL) Chairman and Managing Director A K Dubey, however, agreed to coordinate with government to arrange a meeting at the level of Coal Ministry before November 24 to avert one day token strike on November 24, the four trade unions -- INTUC, AITUC, CITU and HMS -- said in a joint statement.

The four of the five leading trade unions of Coal India held a meeting with Coal India management to deliberate on various issues including enforcement of enhanced wages to contract workers engaged in mining activities and issue of Special Female VRS.

"Despite appeal by CIL (Coal India) Chairman, four CTUs did not defer the proposed one-day token strike on November 24 and have made clear that the coal workers will go on strike as scheduled if Government of India does not delete the enabling clause from the Ordinance," the statement said.

Accusing government of trying to 'privatise' the coal sector, unions had last month announced a day-long strike on November 24 demanding scrapping of the move and stopping further divestment of Coal India Limited (CIL).

The steering committee of the central trade unions met at Ranchi and served a joint notice on the token strike in the coal industry including Coal India and Singareni Collieries, Secretary General of Indian National Mine Workers' Federation S Q Zama had earlier told PTI.

The call for the strike, which coincides with the opening day of Parliament, came ten days after the government issued an ordinance to e-auction coal blocks enabling private sector firms, barring those convicted for offences related to mines allotment, to bid. The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance 2014, got Presidential nod on October 21.

The unions demanded scrapping of the enabling clause for commercial mining by private players and stopping of further disinvestment and restructuring of CIL.

Source: PTI