A middle path has been worked out on divestment issue: R Mohandas, Coal India

In an interview with ET Now, R Mohandas, Director-HR, Coal India, shares his views on their discussions with the labour unions and the deferring of the labour strike. Excerpts:

ET Now: Give us an update on the discussions with the labour unions because news reports suggest that the strike has been deferred to December.

R Mohandas: Yes, we had a discussion on the issues which are related to our operations. They have raised one or two issues. We had some discussions and we would come to an understanding on that. So based on that, they have deferred their strike.

ET Now: Could you also highlight for us what the major concerns were of the labour unions with respect to that 5% divestment?
R Mohandas: Regarding the divestment, basically those discussions we held long back along with our Honourable Minister for Coal. We had three rounds of discussions with the union.

Those discussions were basically with reference to Coal India issues where the Honourable Minister directed us to have a dialogue with them and sort out those issues. So we had the discussions with them and came to some understanding.

ET Now: You are effectively saying that there is no disagreement with regards to the divestment, the strike has not been kept or deferred because of that?

R Mohandas: No, divestment was one of the issues. Earlier it was 10%, then it was reduced to 5%. So at that time itself with the discussions with the Honourable Minister, it was reduced to 5%. That was over at that time. Now we had the discussion on the local issues. So this also will be discussed as part of the whole thing and we will take a final call on that.

ET Now: So let us talk about both of those. Have you resolved the local issues or the meaning of the…?

R Mohandas: Yes, it has been resolved.

ET Now: So why is the strike deferred and not called off?

R Mohandas: They have actually given more than 40-42 demands, but we have discussed around six or seven only. So the balance issues are there. They are not major but smaller issues and other things like that. So those discussions will be held later. Then finally they will take a final call.

ET Now: How have you resolved the divestment issue? You mentioned even that has been resolved. How has that been resolved?

R Mohandas: From 10% it has come down to 5%.

ET Now: So you are saying that the divestment process will go through?

R Mohandas: Yes, there should not be any problem. It is now for the government to take a call on that.