KOLKATA | JUNE 19, 2017: A final decision on the proposed closure of some mines may be taken only after discussions with trade unions (TUs) of the subsidiaries of Coal India Ltd.

The five central trade unions (TUs), which had been demanding withdrawal of this proposal, said they decided to discuss the issue at the level of the subsidiaries (of Coal India Ltd.).

The TUs requested the conciliation officer to allow discussions on the proposal to be held in his office before taking the final decision.

The TUs had given a three-day strike call from June 19 to protest this and other issues. The plan had now been deferred for three months, a statement from the unions said. The TUs which had called for the strike on a seven- point charter of demands were the Indian National Trade Union, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Hind Mazdoor Sangh, All India Trade Union Congress and Centre for Indian Trade Unions

Two other pressure-points were the proposal to merge Coal Mines Provident Fund with the Employees Provident Fund and non-implementation of some points in the last National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA). They had been told that no final decision had been taken on the merger. They received assurance on NCWA also.

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)