PROPOSED COAL STRIKE CALLED OFF
After prolonged discussions, on July
30,31 and August 1, 2002 between the Joint Action Committee of
the Central Trade Unions of coal industry consisting of representatives
of Indian National Mine Workers Federation (INTUC), Indian Mine
Worker Federation (AITUC), Akhil Bharatiya Khadan Mazdoor Sangh
(BMS) and Hind Khadan Mazdoor Federation (HMS), Minister of State
for Coal & Mines and Chairman, Coal India Limited, the parties
agreed to resolve the disputes on the following terms and the
trade unions agreed to call off the proposed strike from August
5 to 11, 2002. This was told to the media by Shri Ravi Shankar
Prasad, MOS for Coal, Mines, Law & Justice here today. He
informed that the memorandum of settlement was signed between
representative of all the five federations of trade unions and
management of Coal India Ltd. Before the Chief Labour Commissioner
(Central) Shri S.K. Mukhopadhyay on August 1, 2002.
Shri Prasad said that the Unions
were assured that the GOM on coal industry will hear the 5 Federations
of Unions, namely INTUC, AITUC, BMS, CITU and HMS. Till such time,
the matter of amendment of 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 with a view to resolving the issues. It was agreed
that the revival plan of ECL, BCCL, CCL, NEC will be discussed
by CIL management with the Apex JCC with one month along with
the unitary plan and the revival plan will be finalised. It was
agreed that the 5 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 the discussion
takes place further action on tendering will be kept in abeyance.
The Memorandum specified that Joint
discussions will be held by the trade unions with the Government
within 3 months on income tax on fringe benefits; rate of interest
on CMPF; and pension. It was agreed that in regard to the demands
raised in the 21 point Charter of Demands which are related to
coal industry will be settled through joint discussions between
the management and the trade unions by the end of December, 2002.
The parties should submit implementation report by March 31, 2003.
If no report is received by that time, the settlement shall be
deemed to be implemented.
He said that Unions were told that
there is no proposal either for disinvestment or privatisation
of coal India or any of its subsidiary companies.
Shri Prasad said that CIL has earned
a profit of 1400 crore during the fiscal year 2001-2002 whereas
it had incurred a loss of 1414 crore during 2000-01. The coal
production during 2001-02 has increased by 11.518 MT, growth being
4.30% over previous year. CIL achieved a raw coal production of
279.657 MT during 2001-02 against a target of 279 MT.
The Minister said that CIL has reduced
22129 of its manpower as on April 1, 2002 with a saving of Rs.
280 crore approximately in salary/wages payment. Out of these
8974 employees have opted for VRS. Further he said that by aggressive
persuasion CIL could achieve a sales realisation of Rs. 22999
crore reducing coal sale outstanding dues form Rs. 6845 crore
to 6538 crore.
He said that because of intense
drive of verification by state authorities and interval vigilance
team there is reduction in the number of valid linked consumers
of non-core sector CIL from 7015 to 4788. Further coal supply
to 573 consumers has since been discontinued. This has resulted
in a total saving of Rs. 780 crore.
