Unhappy over 100% FDI in coal mining, workers to go on strike on Sept 24
Five trade unions of Coal India and Singareni Collieries Company will strike work on September 24 to protest against the government’s decision to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI).
The unions are affiliated with the Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI-Marxist, CPI-Liberation and the Belgium-based International Trade Union Confederation. The BJP-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh will not join them.
Union leaders said 100 per cent FDI will make Coal India uncompetitive, losing consumers and pricing power.
“As the company loses revenue, it is the workers who will eventually bear the brunt and wages, bonus, and other pay components may get impacted. Besides, its approach towards the workers will become more conservative as the company will try to control costs,” said G.V.R. Sarma, vice president of the Congress-affiliated Indian National Mineworkers Federation.
