State-owned Coal India today said it suffered a partial production loss after employees owing allegiance to trade union CITU went on strike yesterday to protest against the PSU's Rs 12,000 crore disinvestment plan.
"Our operations were partially hit because we reported production of 306,000 tonnes of coal in the first shift yesterday in CIL collieries against an average 3,26,000 tonnes in the past four days," Coal India Chairman Partha S Bhattacharyya told PTI.
As far as attendance was concerned, it was less by only 4 per cent, showing that the strike only had a partial impact, Bhattacharyya said, adding, "The Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) had called for a day's strike while another union Hind Mazdoor Sabha postponed it."
The remaining three trade unions at CIL -- INTUC, AITUC and Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) -- had withdrawn the strike call following an assurance by the company, as well as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, that the bare minimum disinvestment will be done for listing of the company, he said.
"The government has decided for the bare minimum disinvestment of Coal India Ltd (CIL), which is necessary for its listing. Three unions representing the majority of the employees support us fully," he said.
While conferring Navratna status on CIL in October, 2008, the government had asked the coal firm to get listed within three years, which required disinvestment of at least 10 per cent of the government's holding.
The government plans to disinvest a 10 per cent stake in CIL through an IPO. The Centre at present holds 100 per cent equity in CIL.