Strike has partial impact, coal production hit

The all India strike called by the central trade unions had a partial impact across the country as left ruled states observed a shutdown but life in metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai remained unaffected.

The central trade unions on Friday observed a 24 hour strike to press their 12 point charter demands including increase of minimum wage to Rs 18,000 per month. The effect of strike was felt in left ruled states like Tripura and West Bengal as public utility services remained shut.

Banking services have been affected throughout the country as public sector banks' employees largely remained off-duty. Private banks, however, continued their operations normally. Clearing operations at Reserve Bank were hit with trade union leaders claiming that cheques totalling Rs 19,000 crore were held up as the staff did not report on duty.

"Clearing services have been impacted. Financial instrument worth Rs 19,000 crore has been held up," claimed AIBEA general secretary C H Venkatachalam. State-run mining behemoth Coal India was affected by the strike as its production was down by 40%, majorly in Odisha. Out of 430 operational mines of Coal India, 120 remained closed, with the overall attendance falling short by 10% till 4:00 pm.

"Although our major mines under SECL are working, MCL has been impacted which will result in the day's production falling short by 40%", a Coal India official said. "The major mines are operating and there have not been any untoward incidents. The mines which are affected are minor in nature", the official added.

However, INTUC supported Indian National Mineworkers Federation claimed that more than 80% of the workers had participated in the strike and coal 'despatches have been adversely affected'.

"Morchas and rallies were organized in different coalfields in support of the strike and in this strike the outsourced workers have also participated as their minimum wage rise of Rs 600 per day has not been agreed upon by the government", the union's secretary general S Q Zama said.

Work was also affected in PSUs like VizagSteel Plant, Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels Ltd, Hindustan Shipyard, NTPC's Simhadri Power Plant, Visakhapatnam Port Trust and private industrial units in Visakhapatnam as many of the workers joined the strike.

The steel ministry claimed that the public sector units like SAIL's operations remained unaffected due to the strike. The strike by central trade unions may cause an estimated loss of Rs 16,000-18,000 crore to the country's economy, industry body ASSOCHAM said. 

"Trade, transport and hotels form a major part of the country's GDP. The other major component to the GDP and GVA is the entire package of financial services including banking. Both these key segments have been crippled by the strike," Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said.