CIL employee unions to meet Coal Minister on Jan 3

Representatives of employee unions of state-owned CIL are likely to meet Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal on January 3, ahead of the proposed five-day strike beginning January 6.
The unions had threatened to go on strike to press for demands including roll-back of the "process of denationalisation of coal sector" and stopping "disinvestment and restructuring" of Coal India (CIL).
"As per notice .... From Under Secretary, now the meeting has been fixed with Coal Minister on January 3, 2015...Which may be attended by five CTUs," Indian National Mineworkers' Federation (INTUC) said in a statement.
Four central trade unions (CTUs)--INTUC, AITUC, HMS and BMS-- had earlier served the strike notice, it said, adding that "CITU also supported the five-day strike call by 4 CTUs."

The strike call comes at a time when the country is grappling with fuel shortages with thermal power plants facing significant coal shortages.
As per latest data from the CEA, 41 thermal power plants have coal available for less than seven days as on December 29.
Earlier, the proposed strike on November 24 was deferred after a meeting between Coal Ministry officials and trade union representatives.