Coal unions' talks with Goyal stay inconclusive

The meeting of unions with Coal Minister Piyush Goyal today remained "inconclusive" after the latter directed the Coal India management to further deliberate on all pending issues.
The workers are likely to meet the management as early as next week.
The four central trade unions (CTUs) of the coal sector had earlier given a notice to go on strike on March 29.
"Today's meeting (of worker unions' with Coal and Power minister Piyush Goyal) was inconclusive. However, the minister has directed the Coal India management to hold again a meeting with worker unions either on March 21 or March 22 and resolve all pending issues," Indian National Mine Workers' Federation (INTUC) Secretary General S Q Zama told PTI.

Zama further said a host of issues came up for discussion today, including Coal India (CIL) disinvestment and enhanced wages for contract workers of the coal PSU.
The minister is believed to have asked the coal PSU to create an effective grievance redressal mechanism.

The unions are protesting against divestment of the coal PSU among a host of other issues.
The proposed strike, if carried out, is likely to hit the production of the coal behemoth.
An official had earlier said the 10 per cent stake sale in CIL is likely to be deferred to the next fiscal as the government wants to wait for stability in the stock markets for a better valuation.

The government had last sold 10 per cent in the blue-chip on January 31, 2015, at the floor price of Rs 358 and mobilised Rs 22,557 crore.
In November last year, the Cabinet approved 10 per cent stake sale in Coal India.
The government currently owns 79.65 per cent in the maharatna public sector unit.