30k Metric Tonnes Of Coal Production Affected By Singareni Workers Strike Call

Karimnagar: Workers of Singareni Collieries Company Limited launched an indefinite strike here on Thursday demanding restoration of the hereditary job policy.

The strike follows call by several national trade unions that jobs in Singareni should be given to the sons or dependents of the employees. While the Telangana government made it one of its election promises, the Supreme Court had recently stuck down the policy stating that other job aspirants should also get a fair chance.

On the first day of the strike on Thursday, about 30,000 metric tonnes of coal production was impacted. Work was also affected at Singareni units in Kothagudem, Komrambheem, Peddapalli, Mancherial, Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Khammam districts. The management on its part undertook security measures at these units to prevent any untoward incidents as major trade unions such as INTUC, CITU, INTUC, BMS and HMS have declared their solidarity with the striking miners.

Interestingly, the Singareni Collieries recognised miners union namely the Telangana Coalmines Workers Union is opposing the strike call. Also, not all the 57,302 workers of the Company are in support of the strike call. A sizeable number of workers are also against the policy of dependents getting the job. They are also against the nine other demands of the striking miners.

The Company has over 30 underground mines and about 16 overcast mines in Telangana and coal production at these units was affected by the strike call.