(ET)
Workmen at Coal India (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) are likely to go on a one-day strike on September 24 after the Centre and staff unions failed to reach common ground during talks held over the weekend. Staff members want industrial action against the government’s move late August allowing total foreign ownership of coal mines.
Five unions working together have refused to hold further discussions with the government before October. It is estimated that Coal India, the near-monopoly miner of the solid fuel, may lose up to Rs 130 crore a day due to industrial action.
“As the centre invited only three out of the six trade unions that served a strike notice, we refused to discuss the issue … We will not participate in any further discussions before October and the strike will be on as scheduled,” said D D Ramanandan, general secretary, All India Coal Workers Federation.
