CIL unions mull strike over stake sale on August 31

Even as the government is reiterating its plan to go ahead with a 10 per cent stake sale of Coal India (CIL), unions are hardening their stand to oppose the move.

All workers' unions representing over 3,50,000 employees of CIL, in a show of strength, are likely to decide on their action plan opposing the disinvestment at a joint convention in Nagpur next week.

"We are all opposed to the disinvestment. The matter will be discussed at the joint convention and we will decide how to take forward the protest. If the government goes ahaed with the disinvestment process, we may have to resort to strike," Jibon Roy, general secretary, CITU-ffiliated All India Coal Workers Federation, said.

The unions claimed there was assurance from former Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee at the time of the Coal India public issue in 2010 that there would be no further stake sale from the government. Also, according to Roy, unions had signed an agreement with the coal ministry with a similar assurance..

All the five unions - CITU-ffiliated All India Coal Workers Federation, Indian National Mine Workers' Federation (affiliated to INTUC), Indian Mine Workers' Federation (affiliated to AITUC), Hind Khadan Mazdoor Federation (affiliated to HMS) and coal workers' union of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh - would deliberate on their future course of action on August 31 at the joint convention.

Speaking on the possibility of strike, Surendra Kumar Pandey, President of coal workers'union of BMS said, "We are all opposing the disinvestment. Some of our friends in CITU may suggest a strike as a means of protest. We think, we should give some time to the government. Strike can be the last resort."

Unions may decide on giving the government one month's notice before striking work, if the government initiates the stake sale.

The government currently holds an 89.65 per cent stake in Coal India. UPA government's planned stake sale in CIL failed due to opposition from unions and the miner had to make up for that by paying about Rs 19,000 crore as special dividend to the government.

Narendra Modi-governmnt has again take up the matter reietering its intention to sell 10 per cent stake in CIL, which could fetch the exchequer about Rs 20,000 crore.