CTUs extend support to strike against commercial mining; AIACE withholds support

• The strike is supposed to begin from July 2 and is slated to go on for three days at all places of activities in the coal sector

• The unions have asked the government to withdraw the decision of offering coal blocks up for commercial mining in the coal industry

New Delhi: The Central Trade Unions have extended their full support to the strike call issued by the unions and federations of the coal industry across India against the government's decision to offer coal blocks for commercial mining. The strike is supposed to begin from July 2 and is slated to go on for three days at all places of activities in the coal sector. A strike notice in this regard was served by the unions and federations of the coal sector on June 18. "We congratulate them for organising the protest simultaneously, while serving the strike notice on June 18 to the respective managements," said a joint statement released by 10 Central Trade Unions on Saturday.

"Their two-day protest on June 10 and 11 did not cause the government to review its decision of commercial mining, privatisation and decision to de-link CMPDI from CIL, among other demands. Rather Prime Minister himself came forward to launch the process of auction on June 18, which was announced on June 11," said the statement. The 10 trade unions who have extended support to the strike call include, Congress' INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CPI's (M) CITU, SUCI's AIUTUC, AIFB's TUCC, women's trade union SEWA, AICCTU, DMK's LPF and UTUC.

Coal sector strike: What have the unions demanded

The unions have asked the government to withdraw the decision of offering coal blocks up for commercial mining in the coal industry, stop all steps that weaken or are geared towards the privatisation of Coal India Limited or Singareni Collieries Company, withdraw the decision to de-link CMPDIL from CIL, enforce HPC/CIL enhanced wages to contract workers in CIL and SCCL and implement the clause 9.3.0, 9.4.0 and 9.5.0 of National Coal Wage Agreement.

"We call upon all our respective state chapters to extend their solidarity support to this agitation to defend this core public sector in the national interest and for our nation's self reliance in this sector," said the statement.

Executives Association not supporting strike call

Separately, the AIACE (All India Association of Coal Executives) has said that it will neither join nor offer support to the strike call issued by trade unions for July. An official statement released by the AIACE said, "AIACE and its members do not support any strike and will also not align with any other organisation on strike issue. AIACE is of the view that CMPDIL should remain with CIL in the present form, and if needed, should extend its services to private players who will be allotted coal blocks under commercial mining concept to make India self-reliant in coal production and reduce coal import to zero level."

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