The first round of tri-partite conciliatory talks between representatives of the trade unions of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) and the management has been called for in Chennai on Wednesday.
The talks will be held under the mediation of Regional Labour Commissioner S. Sekar.
Over 12,000 regular employees owing allegiance to Labour Progressive Front (LPF), Anna Workers and Staff Union and other trade unions commenced their strike from 10 p.m. on Monday night in support of their charter of demands including wage revision.
According to Rama Udayakumar, general secretary of Anna Workers and Staff Union, wage revision is being implemented once in five years and the last revision for regular employees has been pending since January 1, 2012.
The management had agreed to provide 10 per cent hike in wages against the unions’ demand of 24 per cent. Though several rounds of talks were held with the management, the Memorandum of Settlement had not been signed so far.
Mr. Udayakumar said that over 50 per cent of contract workers belonging to various trade unions had also expressed their solidarity with the regular employees and did not report for duty.
A spokesperson of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation said that lignite mining was not affected due to the strike and there was adequate stock of lignite. The requirement had been planned in advance and the management had taken all steps to maintain normal operations.
Of the total capacity of 2990 MW, NLC was generating 2400 MW owing to scheduled maintenance in one unit in Thermal Power II and one unit in Thermal Power Station Expansion.
A senior official in NLC said that the management had asked the trade unions to desist from going on a strike indicating the guidelines of the Department of Public Enterprises, present salary benefits drawn by the unionised category of employees, offer of the management and its related financial implications. However, ignoring the plea, the recognised unions went ahead with their indefinite strike plan.
The NLC management has also countered the table of benefits shown in a notice being distributed by trade unions stating that it does not reveal the factual status and was only aimed at misleading the employees.
