Raja seeks Coal Minstry's intervention to end Neyveli strike

Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology A Raja has requested the Coal Ministry's intervention to end the strike at the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC).

Workers of the state-owned power producer, owing allegiance to two trade unions, went on an indefinite strike last night to press for higher wages. The wages have not been revised since January 1, 2007.

In a letter to Union Minister of State for Coal Shriprakash Jaiswal, which was circulated to the media here, he said that the wage revision was pending since January 1, 2007.

"Several meetings were held with the management in this regard and it was agreed to sanction 3 per cent increment and 3 per cent service weightage from January 1, 2007, onwards," he said in a letter.

He said that the management had also agreed to pay 25 per cent fitment benefit with effect from January 1, 2007, during the negotiation, but went back on its word in subsequent talks and said it could offer only nine months benefit from September 1, 2009, he said.

The letter said that in the last wage revision 18 months arrears in allowances was given to the employees. "These justifications have been presented to the management."

Stating that NLC workers' unions started strike from today as a last resort, he said in his latter to Jaiswal, adding that "as desired by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, I request you to kindly intervene in the public interest and resolve the problem at the earliest."