The nation-wide strike called by the five major unions of Coal India ltd (CIl) in protest against Government's decision to divest its stake in the company as well as its restructuring, was called off late on Wednesday night after assurances from the Government that their concerns will be looked into related to various aspects.
Coal Secretary Anil Swarup informed The Pioneer that the strike had been called off and that a mutually acceptable agreement is being worked out. The five-day strike had continued on Wednesday for the second day running before being called off. The strike was called off after the end of a marathon six hour long negotiations between the unions and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal, which took place in his office. CIl Chairman Sutirtha Bhattacharya along with senior ministry officials was also present in the meeting.
Briefing media persons after the meeting, Goyal said that discussions were held with unions on various issues like welfare of coal workers, protection of their rights, ensuring continued functioning of CIl mines, upgradation of coal evacuation technologies and improving the conditions of several mines. Most importantly, the minister exuded confidence that CIl will be able to achieve the target of producing 1 billion tonnes of coal annually by 2019.
Apprehensions among the unions that there could be a threat to the nationalisation of CIl due to the ordinance promulgated by the Government, were also allayed, the minister said. "CIl and its employees will not be affected in any manner whatsoever due to the ordinance (meant for ensuring e-auction of coal blocks). This is the assurance given to them during the meeting," Goyal added.
Meanwhile the five-day coal strike had earlier entered its second day on Wednesday, causing production loss of an estimated Rs 300 crore, amid growing fears of a possible power crisis in the event of thermal plants running out of fuel supplies. Even as talks resumed on Wednesday between the Government and the trade unions to end the strike -- which is being billed as the biggest industrial action in nearly four decades -- nearly five lakh workers, including that of PSU behemoth Coal India ltd (CIl), remained off-work at coal mines across the country.
Top officials from states, including in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, expressed apprehensions that power supplies may be hit if the strike continues further, while executives at power companies also said they may run out of the emergency fuel supplies if coal production remains stalled. Officials said the strike has impacted over 75 per cent of the daily coal output of 1.5 million tonnes, with 290 out of 438 CIl coal mines being hit. There were reports of clashes between workers and police in Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The strike call was given by all five major trade unions, including BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, against "disinvestment in Coal India and denationalisation of coal mining". After talks between Coal Secretary Anil Swarup and union leaders failed to yield any results late on Tuesday night, Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal and CIl Chairman Sutirtha Bhattacharya on Wednesday met representatives of trade unions to find an amicable solution to end the strike.
Unions had alleged that CIl management was trying to bring in temporary workers to operate the 290 shut mines. CIl could produce only about 0.2 million tonnes on Wednesday, while it was 0.22 million tonnes on Tuesday. Production was also hit at Singareni Collieries mines that produces around 0.1 million tonnes a day.