Trade union threaten 7-day strike against disinvestment in CIL
New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Opposing disinvestment in state- run Coal India, major trade unions, including CITU and BMS, today threatened that the company employees would go on a week-long strike beginning October 18 -- the day the PSU is expected to launch its public offer.
The strike is most likely to disrupt coal supplies to major industries, including power sector units, as CIL is the biggest supplier of the dry fuel. It accounts for more than 80 per cent of the domestic production.
"We are opposing disinvestment in Coal India and have taken an unanimous decision that employees will go on a seven-day strike opposing the 10 per cent disinvestment," Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) National Secretary Jibon Roy told PTI.
When contacted CIL Chairman Partha S Bhattacharyya said, "Yes, we have received the strike notice from trade unions today. They have threatened to proceed on strike from October 18 opposing disinvestment and demanding regularisation of contract workers."
"We will hold negotiations with the unions and the company is hopeful that they will withdraw the notice in the larger interest of the company because IPO is necessary for its listing," he said.
The coal behemoth is all set to launch its initial public offering (IPO) on October 18, billed as the country''s largest ever, through which the government expects to raise about Rs 15,000 crore by divesting its 10 per cent stake.
Roy said all major unions, including All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMC)and Hind Mazdoor Sabha, have taken the decision against the proposed disinvestment.
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) General Secretary and Indian National Mines Workers President Rajendra Singh said workers are apprehensive that the government can go for divesting more stake in the coal company in future.
A Hind Mazdoor Sangh official said the workers were ready for the strike.
Singh also said a meeting of the central trade unions have been convened in Delhi on the issue on October 5 in which a final decision would be taken.
A segment of workers owing allegiance to CITU had earlier on May 5 proceeded on a one-day strike against the disinvestment programme.
The unions had earlier also threatened of a strike on in April-May this year to oppose disinvestment plan. They later withdrew the strike call following assurances by the company as well as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that bare minimum disinvestment will be done for listing of the company.
While conferring Navratna status on CIL in October, 2008, the government had asked the coal firm to get listed within three years, which required disinvestment of at least 10 per cent of the government''s holding.
CIL accounts for more than 80 per cent of the country''s total coal production and its output was recorded at 431 million tonnes last fiscal.
The strike is most likely to disrupt coal supplies to major industries, including power sector units, as CIL is the biggest supplier of the dry fuel. It accounts for more than 80 per cent of the domestic production.
"We are opposing disinvestment in Coal India and have taken an unanimous decision that employees will go on a seven-day strike opposing the 10 per cent disinvestment," Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) National Secretary Jibon Roy told PTI.
When contacted CIL Chairman Partha S Bhattacharyya said, "Yes, we have received the strike notice from trade unions today. They have threatened to proceed on strike from October 18 opposing disinvestment and demanding regularisation of contract workers."
"We will hold negotiations with the unions and the company is hopeful that they will withdraw the notice in the larger interest of the company because IPO is necessary for its listing," he said.
The coal behemoth is all set to launch its initial public offering (IPO) on October 18, billed as the country''s largest ever, through which the government expects to raise about Rs 15,000 crore by divesting its 10 per cent stake.
Roy said all major unions, including All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMC)and Hind Mazdoor Sabha, have taken the decision against the proposed disinvestment.
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) General Secretary and Indian National Mines Workers President Rajendra Singh said workers are apprehensive that the government can go for divesting more stake in the coal company in future.
A Hind Mazdoor Sangh official said the workers were ready for the strike.
Singh also said a meeting of the central trade unions have been convened in Delhi on the issue on October 5 in which a final decision would be taken.
A segment of workers owing allegiance to CITU had earlier on May 5 proceeded on a one-day strike against the disinvestment programme.
The unions had earlier also threatened of a strike on in April-May this year to oppose disinvestment plan. They later withdrew the strike call following assurances by the company as well as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that bare minimum disinvestment will be done for listing of the company.
While conferring Navratna status on CIL in October, 2008, the government had asked the coal firm to get listed within three years, which required disinvestment of at least 10 per cent of the government''s holding.
CIL accounts for more than 80 per cent of the country''s total coal production and its output was recorded at 431 million tonnes last fiscal.
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