Strike at NLC might be called off

NEYVELI: The indefinite strike by around 10,000 contract workers of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) to press for their demands, including regularisation of jobs, might be called off soon after discussions among the concerned parties, a top official of the PSU said.

NLC Personnel Director Babu Rao said discussions between the labour commissioner, trade unions and NLC officials was proceeding smoothly.

"The NLC contract workers strike will be called off today or tomorrow," he said. The workers have been demanding regularisation of jobs for all contractual employees who had completed 10 years of service and provision of medical facilities and transport allowances to them. The Chairman and Managing Director of NLC S Jayaraman said that the workers' demands would be solved as per the labour laws.

Meanwhile, the strike by the contract workers entered the third day today, affecting lignite production, power generation and maintenance of special mining machines.

Power generation at the three thermal units at NLC today was 1,700 MW against its capacity of 2,490 MW, while lignite production was 50,000 tonnes against the usual 70,000 tonnes, NLC mining engineer T venugopal said. PTI