Govt trying to negotiate with striking CIL, SCCL workers; things to normalise soon: Pralhad Joshi

Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi has said efforts were on to hold talks with Coal IndiaNSE -0.18 % and SCCL workers who are on strike and the government was hopeful that things will normalise by Wednesday. Coal India (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) workers are on a day-long token strike on Tuesday protesting the Centre’s decision to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the two PSUs through automatic route.

The strike call has been given by five central trade unions namely INTUC, HMS, AITUC, CITU and AICCTU. “We are trying to have negotiations with them (workers). Government is quite open and the major impact is today,” Joshi told reporters on the sidelines of an event by Indian Energy Forum here. The minister expressed hope that operations in Coal India mines would normalise on