Madras High Court declares strike at NLC as illegal

The Madras High Court has said that the strike conducted by the Workers' unions of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) is illegal and asked the management to take disciplinary action against the protesting workers. This comes at a time when the discussion for conciliation is expected to take place in Delhi on July 30, 2015.

NLC today filed a contempt petition seeking the Court to declare the strike commenced by the NLC Workers Progressive Union, part of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK's) trade union and NLC Anna Workers and Staff Union, part of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK's) trade union, and others, as illegal and pass other necessary orders. The strike started from the third shift of July 20, 2015.

Hearing the petition today, Justice T Raja said that the strike is illegal and directed the NLC management to take disciplinary action against those who strike and to cut eight day's salary for each day of strike by the worker. F B Benjamin George, the learned counsel appeared for NLC, who confirmed the order, also said that statutory notice has been issued to the two major unions and the leaders have to appear in person on the 28th day from Tuesday.

S Rajavannian, general secretary, NLC Workers Progressive Union said that he is not aware of the order. He said that the next round of talks would be held in Delhi on July 30, 2015.

The company has earlier filed a petition with the Madras High Court seeking interim order against the Unions going for strike. In the Writ Petition, the Court granted an order on June 29, 2015 restraining the unions from proceeding with the strike.

It alleged that despite the order was passed, the trade unions have struck work from the third shift of July 20. Around 12,000 employees have gone on an indefinite strike since then demanding a favourable wage settlement, according to the unions. More than 20 rounds of conciliation talks between the company management and the workers have failed so far, according to sources.