Trade unions protest against Coal India stake sale

Five trade unions operating in the coal sector today held demonstrations to protest against the Coal India disinvestment.
In the biggest-ever disinvestment, the 10 per cent stake sale in Coal India (CIL) was today over-subscribed fetching the government about Rs 22,577 crore largely helped by domestic financial institutions including state-run LIC.
"The five Central Trade unions --INTUC, BMS, HMS, AITUC and CITU -- today protested against the government's move to sell 10 per cent stake in Coal India," one of the trade unions said in a statement.
It said around 200 workers demonstrated at headquarters of Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL), a unit of CIL.

While addressing the workers, S Q Zama, Secretary General INMF (INTUC) threatened "Guerrilla War" by 5 CTUs against the move.
Nearly five lakh coal workers went on a strike early this month after five major trade unions, including BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, gave a call for the biggest ever industrial action in four decades against what they called attempts for "disinvestment in Coal India and denationalisation of coal mining".
Coal workers, however, called off their 5-day nationwide strike after two days following the government intervention.