Tamil Nadu urges PM to intervene in NLC labour issue

Worker on indefinite strike asking for wage revision

Tamil Nadu government has asked Prime Minister's intervention to bring the ongoing indefinite strike, by workets, to end at Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC).

"I write seeking your urgent intervention in connection with the ongoing strike in and would like to bring to your notice the precarious situation prevailing in the Neyveli power station complex due to the ongoing strike," said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in a letter to the Prime Minister.

She wrote a similar letter dated June 22, 2015, and informed you that the workers belonging to the recognised and non recognised trade unions of NLC had gone on indefinite strike from July 7, 2015 seeking an early and satisfactory wage revision settlement.

She asked the Prime Minister to instruct the Coal Ministry to immediately look into the grievances of the NLC workers and settle the issue amicably.

However, there has been no positive development with regard to finding a solution to the strike by the Ministry of Coal.

"I have been informed that currently the workers have resorted to picketing against officers and contract workers which would effectively stop mining of lignite and power generation," said the Chief Minister.

She noted, Neyveli Lignite Corporation is one of the main suppliers of power to Tamil Nadu and supplies about 1,450 Mega Watts of power to the state. As a result of the ongoing strike, it is apprehended that about 2990 MW of power production will be affected and Tamil Nadu alone will lose about 1,450 MW of power.

"I therefore request you to kindly instruct the Ministry of Coal to immediately look into the grievances of the NLC workers and settle the issue amicably. Any further delay in the matter would adversely affect the power supply situation in Tamil Nadu and the Southern States," said Jayalalithaa.