The Hindu Business Line : Singareni Collieries signs pact with labour union

SINGARENI Collieries Company Ltd, a public sector undertaking, has entered into a memorandum of settlement with the Singareni Coal Mines Labour Union, a recognised union of the company, on 10 issues pertaining to the welfare of the employees.

According to the Director (Personnel, Administration and Welfare), Mr Sriram Taranikanti, the settlement would cost the company up to Rs 5 crore per annum initially and substantially more in the long run.

He, however, said that the management was happy with the settlement arrived at without the workers resorting to strikes.

Expressing the hope that the settlement would lead to increased productivity of workers, Mr Taranikanti said that the company had targeted to produce 35 million tonnes of coal in the current fiscal, against a production of 33.85 million tonnes last year.

The Working President of the labour union, Mr B. Venkata Rao, also stated that it was a good settlement.

Except for two demands, all others made by the union had been accepted by the management.

As per the settlement, Singareni Collieries would be reimbursing the cost of power to the extent of 30 units per month for every employee residing in his own house in the colliery areas.

This was estimated to benefit 40,000 workers. Similarly, all the 120 dependents of the employees who died in harness or became medically unfit to continue in the job between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2003, would be provided employment by September 30, 2004.

In respect of dependents of the employees who lost their lives or became unfit after January 1, 2004, employment would be provided for 25 persons every month.

The settlement also involved, apart from other things, review of cases of former workmen who were dismissed on account of absenteeism, enhancement of allowances being given to mining staff, simplification of procedures for provision of medical facilities and career growth scheme for supervisory personnel in mining, electrical and mechanical engineering disciplines.

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