Coal workers demand 50% salary hike

KOLKATA: Five central coal workers’ unions have demanded a 50% hike in gross salaries of all coal workmen across sectors. This time, the unions intend to negotiate with the ministry on behalf of every coal worker. Last time they negotiated for Coal India only.

The 10th National Coal Wage Agreement falls due in August this year and the unions, which represent more than 90% of workmen in Coal India and Singareni Collieries, would enter into negotiations with the respective managements as well as the coal ministry soon.

“This time we have asked for a 50% hike in gross salaries and have placed our demand with the coal ministry because we intend to negotiate on behalf of all coal workers. It would include workers on payroll from Coal India and Singranei Collieries as well as the ones on contract employed by private operators in CIL mines," said S Q Zama, secretary general at INTUC.