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Singareni coal miners still on strike

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

The indefinite strike by 105,000 workers of Singareni Collieries Company Limited entered the 12th day on Wednesday, even as the talks between the management and agitating worker unions failed to make headway.

Production losses in the SCCL, due to the strike, mounted to 1.1 million tonnes of coal worth Rs 990 million while the striking workers stood to lose wages amounting to Rs 440 million. Several towns in the coal belt observed a total bandh on Tuesday in support of the miners' unions.

The stalemate continued despite talks between the unions and management for the fifth consecutive day. The management offered to pay the wage revision arrears of 54 months, amounting to Rs 4.5 billion, in three instalments, keeping in view the financial condition of SCCL.

But the leaders of the joint action committee of the striking workers insisted on payment of 75 per cent arrears before July 20 and the balance before Diwali.

The JAC also insisted on its major demand for jobs for dependents in case of death or medical invalidation of workers.

The SCCL management, however, offered to pay monthly monetary compensation or even a lump sum payment up to Rs 100,000 to the families.

The government also offered to sanction loans under the Chief Minister's Employment for Youth programme in lieu of jobs for dependents.

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