Trade Unions Threaten 3-Day Strike At Coal India, Demand Wage Revision For Non-Executives

The trade unions are demanding the salary of non-executive employees of Coal India in accordance with National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA) XI.

Trade Unions, including Central trade unions, including Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and All India Trade Union Congress, have given a three-strike notice to Coal India demanding salary revision for non-executive employees as per the latest wage pact. Trade unions are threatening a strike from October 5 to October 7. 

The trade unions are demanding the salary of non-executive employees of Coal India in accordance with National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA) XI, reported PTI. 

Coal India Ltd (CIL) in an exchange filing said it "is in receipt of joint strike notice from Central Trade Unions - BMS / INTUC / HMS / AITUC / CITU for observing 3-day strike from October 5 to 7, 2023 in Coal CIL and its subsidiaries."

CIL in its letter addressed to the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) has requested that since this industry has been declared a "Public Utility Service". Uninterrupted production and supply of coal to power plants is essential to ensure electricity generation and supply, to take necessary action, and seize the matter under conciliation, in order to safeguard the interest of the company as well as the country, the exchange filing said. 

In June 2023, the coal ministry approved a wage revision agreement that had been negotiated with trade unions for non-executive employees of Coal India, according to the news agency report.

This agreement includes a provision for a 19 per cent minimum guaranteed benefit, effective from July 1, 2021, on various emoluments such as basic pay, Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), Special Dearness Allowance (SDA), and attendance bonus. Additionally, the agreement entails a 25 per cent increase in allowances.

The agreement was reached in May by the Joint Bipartite Committee for the Coal Industry (JBCCI)-XI, comprising representatives from CIL management, the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), central trade unions, and the Indian National Mine Workers’ Federation (INMF).

As per the trade unions' notice, they have demanded that the salary of non-executive employees be given according to NCWA XI. The bodies have threatened to go on a three-day strike from October 5-7 if the management does not fulfill the demands under NCWA XI, the notice sent to CIL management said.