8 January, 2015Over half a million coalminers in India have ended a planned five-day strike after two days as the government gave assurances not to privatize Coal India Ltd (CIL). IndustriALL Global Union coal mining affiliates led the massive strike which ended on 7 January.
Following a marathon six-hour-long meeting between the leaders of the five trade union centres that called the strike and the Coal India Chairman and senior officials, India's Coal and Power Minister, Piyush Goyal, told reporters:
"There is no intention for denationalization of CIL. The present and future interest of CIL employees will not be affected in any manner. CIL will be protected and there need be no apprehension about its ownership or management going into private hands.
The government has now established a committee to consider the other union demands.
The agreement that ended the strike is available in Hindi. The main points of the text are:
- The Committee will be constituted with the Joint Secretary, chaired by the Coal Ministry and Representatives of the Five National Centres to look into the Charter of Demands and submit a report within one year.
- No denationalization of Coal India Limited and steps to be taken to further strengthen the organization.
- Provisions relating to workers’ demands in the legislative bill will be held in suspension until the Committee submits its recommendations.
- Job security and service conditions of workers protected.
Housing and hygiene conditions of workers’ townships renovated within one year.
The government also made it very clear that no vindictive actions will be initiated against workers for their participation in the strike. The unions have committed to improve production and improve efficiency.
Rajendra Prasad Singha, IndustriALL Global Union Executive Committee member and Vice-President of the HMS union stated: "The strike has demonstrated the extraordinary unity of the working class and brought down the arrogance of the Government.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government was forced to act fast during the strike as coal produces 60 per cent of India’s electricity. Coal India produces over 80 per cent of the country’s coal. Once the coal-fired power plants’ stockpiles ran out, energy blackouts would have begun tomorrow if the strike had continued.
Coal India is the world’s largest mining employer, producing 472 million tons annually.