Coal news and updates

Coal India unions toughen stand, strike may be extended

January 7: At the end of the second day of the coal workers strike, it seemed the unions had toughened their stand and could extend the stir, sources informed ICMW.

Workers at the coal behemonth, Coal India, said they were preparing for a “prolonged agitation”. The strike has impacted production for the second consecutive day.

The five-day strike, the largest industrial action by five major trade unions of Coal India, will be extended to 10 days if the government does not “give up its arrogance”, a union source said.

Workers are agitating against permission for merchant mining and sale of coal in the open market, which was included as an enabling clause in the recent Ordinance to auction coal mines. They say such mines, which do not pay minimum wages or ensure workers’ social welfare, will be able to sell coal cheaper and make Coal India’s produce expensive in comparison.

Power ministry sources said power generation in the country till now has not been impacted as partial loading of coal is still being done.