Coal India seeks conciliation as unions call for strike

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SME Times News Bureau | 23 Dec, 2014
The country's largest coal producer Coal India (CIL) Monday said it is prepared for a conciliation process even as the employees' unions of the state miner threatened to go on a five-day strike from Jan 6.

"As and when the (notice of strike) is received, we shall go for conciliation process," Coal India (CIL) said in a stock exchange filing.

The company said that according to media reports, four trade unions -- Indian National Mineworkers Federation (INMFW), Hind Khadan Mazdoor Federation, the Indian Mine Workers Federation and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh -- have decided to go on strike Jan 6-10.

CIL is, however, yet to receive any official notice from the unions in the matter.

CIL, it is estimated, will have to bear a revenue loss of Rs.1,000 crore including a production loss of about 6.5 million tonnes due to the strike.

Five trade unions in CIL and Singareni Collieries Company (SCC) had Dec 17 called for the strike protesting against denationalisation of coal and disinvestment in the world's largest coal miner.

"Despite a drastic reduction in permanent staff from the workforce, the centre is pressing for denationalisation of CIL," said AICWF general secretary Jibon Roy said in Kolkata Thursday. The union has extended its support to the four unions and will hold a separate strike Jan 13.

The unions are demanding the scrapping of the enabling clause from the Coal Mines Ordinance 2014, which allows commercial mining by private firms, and divestment of at least ten percent stake in CIL, among others.

"The (coal) minister had previously promised to consult trade unions for further proceedings based on which we cancelled our previous strike Nov 24 but the government passed the coal legislation without any consultation," he added.

The striking unions have also demanded extension of National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA) wages and other benefits to existing and prospective captive coal workers and lifting the ban on general recruitment.

"We are pushing for the demand to implement a five-day week and 35 hours of weekly work schedule from the existing seven days a week and 56 hours a week work schedule," Roy said.

Also, unions have asked for improving amenities including free education, up to class 12, for the children of workers.

The proposed disinvestment of $8.5 billion in CIL will help the Centre lower fiscal deficit. The union government sold 10 percent stake in CIL in 2010 raising $3.4 billion.