Coal India workers cancel strike

Workers' union of Coal India today withdrew a proposed three-day strike, called to press early wage revision, after receiving assurance from the management on early settlement of the issue.

Five leading unions at Coal India -- INTUC, BMS, CITU, HMS and AITUC -- had in July threatened to go on a three-day strike from August 8 demanding early revision of wages.

"The strike which was called by the trade unions has been withdrawn. We met representatives of the unions and assured them to look into their demands," Coal India Chairman NC Jha said, after the meeting with the trade union leaders in the national capital during the day.

Among their various demands, the trade union bodies had also asked that there should be no further disinvestment in Coal India, which mines country's 81% production.

"The trade unions had meeting with the senior officials of the Coal Ministry and Coal India. During the meeting, the government assured us that it will look into our demands on policy matters," SQ Zama, General Secretary, Indian National Mineworkers Federation, said.

During the meeting, the trade unions had also requested the government to stop allocation of coal blocks to private firms or captive use and demanded allocation of coal mines through competitive bidding mode, henceforth.

"Among our various demands, we also asked the government to take back unused captive coal blocks. We also asked for recruitment of departmental workers," Zama added.