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Coal workers decide to go on strike on July 2-4, Central TUs extend full support

By A Representative
Central Trade Unions (CTUs) have extended full support to the strike call for three days, July 2-4 given by the unions and federations active in the coal industry. The latter have served strike notice on June 18.
In a joint statement, CTUs said, “Their two day protest on June 10-11 did not deter the Government to review its decision of commercial mining, privatization and decision to delink the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) from Coal India Ltd (CIL) among other demands.”
“Rather Prime Minister himself came forward to launch the process of auction on June 18, which was announced on June 11, hence the decision of unions to choose this day to protest and give strike notice”, CTUs said.
CTUs add, “The fact of the matter is that even the earlier auctioned and allotted coal blocks could not be started as per schedule period which need to be cancelled immediately.”
The CTUs consist of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, All-India Trade Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Trade Union Coordination Committee, All India Central Council of Trade Unions, Labour Progressive Federation, United Trade Union Congress, and the Self-Employed Women's Association.
CTUs’ demand consist of withdrawal the decision to commercially mine and privatize the coal industry; withdrawal decision to de-link CMPDI from CIL; enforcement of enhanced wages to contract workers in CIL and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL); and implementation of clauses 9.3.0, 9.4.0 and 9.5.0 of the National Coal Wage Agreement.

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