STRIKE BY SIX LAKH WORKERS OF COAL INDUSTRY AVERTED
The proposed 7-day strike by six
lakh workers of coal industry from 5th August, 2002
has been averted. A Memorandum of Settlement between the management
of Coal India Limited and its workmen represented by five federations
of trade unions affiliated to INTUC, BMS, AITUC, CITU and HMS
was signed before the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), CLC[C],
here today. This follows the mediation by the Labour Secretary,
Dr. P.D. Shenoy and conciliation efforts by the Chief Labour Commissioner
[C], Shri S.K. Mukhopadhyay. The CLC[C] initiated conciliation
proceedings on 30th July 2002 on the strike notice
given by the five trade unions to press their 21-Point charter
of demands. When the discussion was about to break on the evening
of 31st July, 2002, Dr. P.D. Shenoy, Secretary (Labour)
intervened and continued discussions with the representatives
of the federation of trade unions and the management of Coal India
Ltd. till 1.30 a.m. on 1.8.2002.
During the conciliatory proceedings
the trade unions were assured that the GOM on Coal industry will
hear them and till such time the Coal Mines Nationalisation (Amendment)
Bill will not be moved for consideration in Parliament. Independently,
within a month the Unions will also have discussions with the
Coal Ministry to resolve the issue. It was agreed that the revival
plan of ECL, BCCL, CCL and NEC will be discussed by CIL management
with the Apex JCC within one month along with the unitary plan
and the revival plan will be finalised. The Unions were told that
there is no proposal either for disinvestments or privatization
of Coal India or any of its subsidiary companies. It was agreed
that five federations of trade unions operating in coal industry
may submit the revival plan for Dankuni Coal Complex which will
be jointly discussed by CIL management. Till this discussion takes
place, further action on tendering will be kept in abeyance.
It was also agreed to continue Joint
Bipartite Committee on Coal Investments(JBCCI-VII) by September
2002 with a view to start immediate negotiations after submission
of Charter of Demands by the trade unions.
The Settlement has been brought about
under the able guidance of Dy. Prime Minister Shri L.K. Advani
and with the untiring efforts of Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, MOS
for Coal and with the cooperation and support of Shri N.K. Sinha,
Secretary, Coal, Management of Coal India Ltd led by Shri N.K.
Sharma, Chairman and five Federations of Trade Unions affiliated
to INTUC, BMS, AITUC, HMS and CITU.
This Settlement will save 42 lakh
mandays of work and is likely to benefit 4,97,000 workmen of Coal
India Ltd. and 97,500 workmen of Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd.
This Settlement also averted the consequential loss of Rs.140
crore towards wages to the workmen and Rs.350 crore towards loss
of production of coal due to the proposed strike.
Shri N.K. Sharma, Chairman and Shri
C.H. Khisty, Director (P&IR), represented the management of
Coal India Ltd. Shri G.S.G. Ayyangar, Director (PA&W) represented
the management of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. in the conciliation.
Shri Rajendra Prasad Singh, President and Shri S.Q. Zama, General
Secretary; Shri J.N. Singh, President and Shri C.B. Frank, General
Secretary; Shri Sunil Sen, General Secretary; Dr. M.K. Pandhe;
and Shri Jayanta Poddar, President of Indian National Coal Mine
Workers Federation (INTUC), Akhil Bhartiya Khadan Mazdoor Sangh
(BMS), Indian Mine Workers Federation (AITUC) All India Coal Workers
Federation (CITU) and Hind Khadan Mazdoor Federation (HMS) respectively,
represented 4,98,000 workmen of Coal India Ltd., its subsidiaries
and 97,500 workmen of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd.
The important demands of the unions
are:-
- Withdrawal of Coal Mines Nationalisation (Amendment)
Bill, 2000;
- Stopping privatization of coal mining either
new or existing including exploration and excavation;
- Reorganisation of coal industry to make a unified
single company with full autonomy;
- Stopping of import of coal to protect Indian
coal mining industry and restoration of custom duty on coal
to the level of 1989-90;
- Special financial package for revival of ECL,
CCL, BCCL etc.;
- Immediate constitution of JBCCI-VII for finalization
of National Coal Wage Agreement – VII;
- Enhancement of rate of interest on Coal Mines
Provident Fund to 12% from the present 9.5%;
- Implementation of unimplemented clauses of NCWA-VI.
