Five federations representing over half-a-million workers of Coal India Ltd., along with Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. and state-owned coal firms, have called for a strike on Sept. 24, seeking withdrawal of the central government's decision to allow 100 percent Foreign Direct Interest in mining.
In a fresh round of FDI reforms, the Union government has allowed 100 percent FDI in coal mining and contract manufacturing, as part of its efforts to boost economic growth.
Major central trade unions, including Indian National Trade Union Congress, All India Trade Union Congress, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Hind Mazdoor Sabha and All India Central Council of Trade Unions, are supporting the strike.
"Except Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh under the BJP, all trade unions have joined the strike call on Sept. 24," DD Ramanandan, the general secretary of All India Coal Workers Federation, told PTI.
In a notice to the Centre, the federations have also demanded that Coal India's subsidiaries, including Eastern Coalfields Ltd., Central Coalfields Ltd. and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd., be merged with the parent firm.
The trade unions have threatened to go on an indefinite strike if their demands are not met with.
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