Four Central trade unions in the coal sector have called a strike on November 15 to protest the Coal Mines (Special) Ordinance, 2014 saying that the legislation 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 the meeting, a senior trade union leader told The Hindu .
The notice said that the ordinance was promulgated in violation of 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.
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The unions were also peeved that they were not consulted in the matter. The unions which participated in the Ranchi meeting were INTUC, AITUC, CITU and HMS. The strike would be held in the mines of Coal India Ltd and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd.
The ordinance was promulgated by the Centre in the wake of Supreme Court’s cancellation of 218 coal blocks.