Production at the mines of Coal India Ltd., which accounts for 80% of the country’s output, was affected on Tuesday with workers in most coal producing areas across the country halting work.
Call given by 5 unions
This was in response to a day’s token strike call given by five central trade unions against the government’s recent decision to allow FDI in coal through the automatic route.
The participating trade unions included those affiliated to the Indian National Trade Union Congress, the All India Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha and Centre for Indian Trade Unions. The Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham Union of SCCL also extended support. Indian National Mineworkers’ Federation (INMF) secretary general SQ Zama said that the strike was near total across CIL’s mines and offices.
In West Bengal, the strike impact was limited to mines of the Asansol-based Eastern Coalfields Ltd. Work came to a standstill in ECL’s Rajmahal mine in Jharkhand, but trade union activists of the All India Trinamool Congress did not allow work stoppage. CIL officials confirmed that the strike affected the 332 units, mines and establishments of CIL.
