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The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), whose federation was among the five that were part of the two-day coal workers’ strike in protest against ‘de-nationalisaton’ of the sector, said it was unfortunate that the strike was called off only on the basis of an assurance by the Coal Minister to constitute a committee to look into the demands.
“The representative of the CITU-affiliated federation opposed this during the negotiations and demanded at least the removal of the components of de-nationalisation from the ordinance and the related Bill,” CITU said in a statement.
The strike, which was called off on Wednesday night after four-hour long negotiations with the Coal Minister after one round of failed talks with the Cola Secretary, has been termed as the biggest after 1977, affecting mines and establishments spread over 40 districts belonging to Coal India Ltd and Singareni Collieries.
'Trade union unity'
Jibon Roy, General Secretary, All India Coal Workers' Federation, told BusinessLine that though opposed to the terms on which the strike was called off, CITU agreed to do so for the cause of “trade union unity''. The RSS-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, too, was of the same view, he added.
"During the negotiations, we demanded at least the removal of the components of de-nationalisation from the ordinance and the related Bill,'' Roy said, adding that the fact that the workers’ are agitated was clear by the “unprecedented” response to the strike call.
“Over seven lakh workers, including those on contract, succeeded in making their voice heard in the corridors of power in Delhi despite police repressions and attacks by the contractor-mafia combine”, he said, adding that “we will continue to oppose the coal ordinance and the Narendra Modi government’s attempts to sell out the natural resources of the country for the benefit of the corporates.”
The call for a five-day strike from January 6'-10, which was called off after two days, was given by four coal federations affiliated to BMS, INTUC, AITUC and HMS. The CITU-affiliated All India Coal Workers’ Federation had given a call for strike on January 13, but joined the strike and called off its January 13 action.
The strike caused production loss of an estimated Rs 300 crore with over 75 per cent of the daily 1.5 million tonnes a day output taking a hit. It was called off after the Coal Minister assured unions that a committee would be set up to look into their demands. He also assured them that Coal India will not be privatised.
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