New Delhi: The trade unions at Coal India have issued a call for a three-day strike starting from July 2 in order to protest against the government's decision to offer coal blocks for commercial mining. Five unions claiming to represent 90 percent of Coal India's 2.8-lakh-strong workforce have decided to serve a strike notice in this regard. PSU Watch had reported earlier that India is set to launch auction of coal mines for commercial mining on June 18.
"At a meeting, unions have decided to serve the notice to the government on June 18 when the Centre plans to initiate the coal block auction process for commercial mining," said DD Ramanandan, president of the All India Coal Workers Federation.
The government, on its part, has assured the company's employees that it wants to strengthen and not privatise Coal India. However, unions have threatened to go on a strike and have demanded a ban on commercial mining, wages for contract workers and jobs for family members of employees found medically unfit.
Four unions at Coal India — AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress), INTUC (Indian National Trade Union Congress), HMS (Hind Mazdoor Sabha) and CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) — had observed June 11 as black day for the coal industry at coalfields across India.
Currently, coal stock at CIL and power plants are at an all-time high. While Coal India has 77 million tonnes of coal in stock, thermal power plants have 50 million tonnes of the fuel.
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