Four central trade unions operating in the coal sector have called a strike on November 24 to protest against The Coal Mines (Special) Ordinance, 2014 saying that this empowers the government to allow entry of private companies in commercial mining of coal.
Their decision came after a meeting in Ranchi in Jharkhand. However, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh is not a signatory to the strike notice. They were not present at today’s meeting either, a senior trade union leader told The Hindu .
The notice said that the ordinance was promulgated in violation of the commitment given by successive governments not to take any action to disturb the public sector character of Coal India Ltd or press for any amendment in the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act, 1973.
The unions were also peeved that they were not consulted in the matter. The unions who participated in the Ranchi meeting were INTUC, and three left unions AITUC, CITU and HMS. The strike is proposed to be held in the mines of Coal India Ltd and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd.
The ordinance was promulgated by the Centre in order to address the issue arising out of the Supreme Court’s cancellation of 218 coal blocks.
