Coal workers to go on strike on Sept 24 over FDI in mining

KOLKATA: Four central workmen trade unions at Coal India will observe a one-day strike on September 24, to protest against 100% FDI in coal and press for three other demands.

Last week, the centre allowed 100% FDI in coal which the unions think is detrimental to their interest in India.

Unions that jointly served the strike notice are INTUC, AITUC, HMS and CITU. The notice includes four-point charter of demands to the Centre after a convention in Ranchi on Thursday and have threatened indefinite strike if their demands are not met.


"All trade unions except BMS under BJP has joined the strike call on September 24," All India Coal Workers Federation general secretary DD Ramanandan said.

The unions have also demanded that all subsidiaries of CIL such as ECL, BCCL, CCL, CMPDL, SECL, MCL be merged into CIL. The demand comes after alleged government plan to separate all subsidiaries from Coal India Ltd. It also urged the Centre to lift ban on appointments.