Singareni-trade unions talks put off to May 25

National trade unions stand firm on revival of dependent employment scheme; threaten strike after May 25

The talks between national trade unions and the management of the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) before the Regional Labour Commissioner (RLC) on the issue the revival of the dependent employment scheme (DES) have been rescheduled to May 25 as the talks held on Thursday failed.

Following the High Court striking down the circular issued by the Singareni management for the revival of DES, the national trade unions — AITUC, INTUC, CITU, HMS and BMS — served a strike notice on the Singareni management and the Regional Labour Commissioner (RLC) in Hyderabad on March 31 demanding that the State government fulfil its promise of reviving the scheme.

Talks continue

The trade unions threatened to go on indefinite strike from April 17 in the Singareni region. However, the Labour Department convened a meeting with the trade unions on April 6 and again on April 17. But, they were not fruitful as the matter was in the Supreme Court at that time and talks were postponed to April 27. In the meantime, the Supreme Court in its decision on April 17 found fault with the Singareni circular on the revival of the dependent employment scheme.

On Thursday during the talks in the Labour Department office in Hyderabad, the Singareni management had urged the trade unions to give them some time to seek the legal opinion of Advocate-General and Attorney General on the Supreme Court direction and take measures for the revival of dependent employment scheme.

However, the trade union leaders insisted that the management give a letter admitting failure or issue a fresh circular for the recruitment of children of coal miners under the dependent employment scheme. The unions wanted the SCCL management to enter a tripartite agreement on the DES.

With the Singareni management seeking some time, the Labour Department officials informed the trade unions about the postponement of the talks to May 25. “We will go on strike if the management fails to settle the issue on May 25,” AITUC leader Y Gattaiah said.