Coal WorkersStrike Called-Off Wednesday Jan 07,2015

The biggest industrial strike by coal unions in 30 years, which led to zero coal stocks at nearly a third of the 50 thermal plants across the country, was called off late on  Jan 07,2015 Wednesday night after negotiations that extended to over six hours.

Coal Minister Piyush Goyal and Coal India Limited (CIL) Chairperson Sutirtha Bhattacharya met representatives of coal workers belonging to five Central trade unions at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

At 10 p.m., union representatives said they were hopeful of a resolution and were withdrawing the strike, though the details were still being discussed.

“We are withdrawing the strike and are finalising the resolution,” CPI-affiliated All-India Trade Union Congress’s (AITUC) Indian Mine Workers Federation leader Ramrendra Kumar told


Note
The central unions went on a five-day strike on Tuesday, for the first time since 1984, demanding withdrawal of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014, which will allow commercial mining from blocks allotted to private firms. At present, blocks are allotted to companies with restrictions on the end use.