A coalition of five employee unions of state-run Shipping Corporation of India have called a strike on December 16 to protest against the firm's divestment, a senior company official said on Friday.
"They have sent us a notice saying that unless the government stops the privatisation process, they will go ahead with the one-day strike," said S Hajara, director of personnel and administration.
This follows comments by divestment secretary Pradip Baijal on Thursday that SCI's privatisation is expected to be completed in the current financial year to March.
The government owns 80.12 per cent of SCI, India's largest shipping line, and intends to sell a 51 per cent stake.
India's privatisation drive got off to a good start in 2002, with successful stake sales in Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd, an overseas telephone service provider, and IBP Co Ltd, an oil products retailer.
But the sale of the country's second-largest aluminium firm National Aluminium Co ground to a halt in October after workers stopped a team of potential bidders from inspecting its main plant in Orissa.
The due diligence process of NALCO is now expected to resume only in January and its sale is unlikely to be completed in the current year.
SCI shares were flat at Rs 68.85 in the afternoon at the Bombay Stock Exchange whose main index was up 0.4 per cent.
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