Coal sector unions to continue agitation against commercial mining, another strike coming up on August 18

• At a virtual meeting between all the five CTUs, it was decided that we will continue our agitation programmes and campaigns against commercial mining, said a union leader

• He added that the CTUs have planned to build public opinion against commercial mining in mining areas, going forward

New Delhi: On the last day of the three-day-long strike organised by trade unions at Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries, the five CTUs (Central Trade Unions) have said that they will continue the agitation programme and have decided to hold another strike on August 18, which is the last day for bid submission for the 41 coal blocks put up for commercial mining. "At a virtual meeting between all the five Central Trade Unions, it was decided that we will continue our agitation programmes and campaigns against commercial mining. And we have decided to serve another notice by the end of this month for a strike on August 18. Because August 18 is the last day for submitting bids for the coal blocks on offer for commercial mining," SQ Zama, the secretary-general of Indian National Mineworkers' Federation, affiliated to INTUC, told PSU Watch on Saturday.

He added, "There's been no response from any government agency since July 2, when we started the strike. Infact, since the Prime Minister himself launched the coal block auction for commercial mining, he wanted to give a very clear message and I am the one who is intervening here, not anyone else."

CTUs will try to build public opinion against commercial mining

Zama said that the CTUs have planned to build public opinion against commercial mining in mining areas, going forward, and will continue the stir in a sustained way if the government seems adamant. "We will try to win over public opinion in coal mines and mining areas. And if the government is adamant still, then we will go for sustained agitation," he said.

Around 92-95 percent of the manpower participated in the three-day strike, said Zama, adding that the estimated loss of coal production is around 85-90 percent on average for the three days.

The backdrop

Trade unions in the coal sector across the country were on a three-day strike, starting July 2, to protest against the Centre's decision to open up coal mines for commercial mining, which would end Coal India Limited's monopoly in the sector. In order to dissuade the workers from continuing the strike, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi and the CMD of Coal India and its subsidiaries had made several appeals over the course of these three days. The three-day strike against privatisation of coal mines and commercial mining had been jointly called by CITU, AITUC, INTUC and HMS.

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