(ET)
A one-day strike at Coal India led to around 35% loss in production with only half of the workforce turning up for duty on Tuesday. Executives did not join the strike called by the workers to oppose liberalisation of coal mining. A senior Coal India executive said employees in charge of essential services like doctors, nurses and electricians were present on Tuesday.
“The total loss of production is estimated at 30-35% on Tuesday,” the executive said. “Heavy rain and strike severely affected all mines of Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields, one of the largest coal producers in the group. Production and dispatches at mines of Central Coalfields, Eastern Coalfields and Western Coalfields were also heavily affected. Production at other subsidiaries was also affected by various degrees.” Employees work at mines in three eight-hour shifts beginning 6 am. Although final production figures were not available, according to estimates by executives, the strike may have halved the output on Tuesday.
