The five-day nationwide strike called by the central trade unions against the Central government’s reported move to privatise the coal sector commenced on a tense note in Yellendu area of the State-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) on Tuesday.
It evoked mixed response in the remaining areas of the Singareni Collieries. Coal workers of major trade unions affiliated to five central trade unions, including AITUC, INTUC and CITU, took part in the strike in Kothagudem region. However, the SCCL’s recognised trade union – Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS) – has distanced itself from the strike.
Tension prevailed at the 21 incline (underground mine) in Yellendu in the morning when a minor scuffle broke out between the members of the JAC of trade unions, those spearheading the strike, and the local leaders of the TBGKS. Police swung into action and brought the situation under control.
As many as 17,372 workers abstained from work as against a total of 36,229 workmen on rolls in the SCCL spread in Khammam, Adilabad, Karimnagar and Warangal districts during the first shift on Tuesday. A total of 16,813 workers reported to duty in the first shift. About 2,044 workmen were on leave on Tuesday, according to SCCL sources.
The impact of the strike was felt in the coal mines in Yellendu area. In the entire Kothagudem region, a total of 2,812 workers struck work as against the total worker strength of 7,642.
Special Correspondent adds: A majority of the coal mine workers at the SCCL Bhupalpalli went on strike following the nation-wide call given by the central trade unions here on Tuesday. The workers affiliated to unions INTUC, AITUC, HMS, BMS and others struck work while those belonging to TBGKS affiliated to the ruling TRS stayed away from the strike.
Strike partialSpecial Correspondent adds: The strike by Singareni coal miners in Adilabad district on Tuesday remained partial with over 70 per cent of miners reporting to duty in Bellampalli, Mandamarri, Ramakrishnapur and Srirampur areas. The loss in production was estimated to be proportionate while the situation in Singareni is likely to improve further given the stand taken by the recognised trade union – TBGKS – of not supporting the national trade unions in their strike. According to information, 300 of about 2,000 miners at Bellampalli, 1,700 of the 7,000 miners at Srirampur and about 700 of the 4,000 miners at Mandamarri participated in the strike in the first shift. The national trade unions – AITUC, INTUC, CITU, HMS and BMS – staged protests at many places in the coal belt.
