SCCL urges unions to withdraw strike

Says stir will cause financial loss to company and workers; unions justify, cite success of farmers’ protest

The management of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. (SCCL) has appealed to trade unions to withdraw their strike call from December 9 to 11 stating that it would result in financial loss not only to the company but also to workers and their families.

In a meeting with the representatives of six workers’ unions, including Telangana Boggugani Karmika Sangham, AITUC, INTUC, HMS, CITU and BMS on Friday, directors of the company explained to them that privatisation of coal blocks was a policy decision of the Union Government and suggested them to fight against it in alternative ways, as striking work would badly impact production and despatch of coal.

The directors also explained to the trade unions the efforts made by the company management to prevent the privatisation of four coal blocks in Singareni area. Stating that allocation of coal blocks was a policy decision taken by the Centre, they said it was not a matter involving just Singareni or Telangana but the entire country.