Coal India ready for conciliation as employee unions threaten strike

Coal India (CIL), the state-run mining company, said that it was ready for the conciliation even as its employees' unions have threatened to go on a five-day strike beginning January 6.

"As and when the notice (of strike) is received, we shall go for conciliation process," CIL said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The state-run coal miner said that it had learnt from newspaper reports that four trade unions - Indian National Mineworkers Federation (INMFW), Hind Khadam Mazdoor Federation, AITUC-controlled Indian Mine Workers Federation and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh - have decided to go on strike from January 6-10.

However, CIL added that it has yet to receive an official notice from the unions.

Employee unions of Coal India and Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) had on December 17 threatened to go on strike.

The charter of demands include stopping or withdrawing "process of denationalisation of coal sector" and stopping "disinvestment, restructuring of CIL" among others.

The demands by the unions also includes extending National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA) wages and other benefits to existing and prospective captive coal workers and lifting the ban on general recruitment.

Regularising contract workers engaged in mining jobs in underground as well as open cast mines is another demand.

Earlier, the proposed strike on November 24 by CIL employee unions was deferred after a meeting between Coal Ministry officials and trade unions.

The recent strike call comes at a time when the country is grappling with coal shortages and as many as 43 thermal power plants are facing significant fuel deficit.

As per latest data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), 43 thermal power plants had coal available for less than seven days as on December 18.