Strike at CIL, subsidiaries, called off

The proposed strike at Coal India Ltd (CIL) and its subsidiaries has been called off as the workers' union and management have reached an agreement over several issues relating to the National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA) VII.

The INTUC-affiliated Rashtriya Koyala Khadan Mazdoor Sangh (RKKMS) said that this was decided at a meeting held recently.

The issues on which both the parties have reached an understanding include "" fixing minimum basic salary at Rs 5,550 per month. It has also been decided that NCWA VII will be made applicable to employees of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) and Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) subject to the government approval.

The unions have also agreed to increase the productivity by 20 per cent and ensure attendance. While the management has agreed for 100 per cent neutralisation of dearness allowance (DA) subject to approval.

The coal wage agreement was due to be implemented with effect from July 2001. A final decision in this regard will be taken by the management and the union soon.

Other demands include introducing a 'own your house' scheme in collaboration with housing finance companies. Free medical treatment to retired employees, promotion of Ayurved, Homeopathy, Naturopathy as cheaper mode of treatment and expediting decision in regard of revival package for BCCL, ECL, CMPDIL, DCC and NEC.

In another development, all employees including officers of CIL will be getting an ex-gratia/ bonus payment of Rs 3,490 for 2003-04. The payment shall be made in one instalment before the Dussehra festival. This was decided at a high level two-day meeting held at Kolkata on Tuesday.