SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 17: The Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Union (RCMU) which is the frontal miners’ organisation of the Cong Party, has on Tuesday announced a week-long agitation from February 1 against Coal India Limited (CIL) over a 15-point demand of miners including review of 19 percent Minimum Guarantee Benefit (MGB) signed in the 11th National Coal Wage.
RCMU general secretary A K Jha, while announcing the agitation on Tuesday said that as per the decision taken at the Indian National Mines Workers Federation (INTUC), a national convention, the agitation would be launched separately in all subsidiary companies of CIL. “It would kick start from Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) from February 1,” Jha added.
On February 1, RCMU is set to hold a demonstration in Barora Area, Block –II and Govindpur. On February 2, protests will be organised in Katras and Sizua areas. Meanwhile, workers will protest on February 3 in Kusunda and P B areas, while the W J area and Bastakola area will be affected on February 4. The agitation will continue on February 6 in Lodna area and Eastern Jharia area, and in Washery Division, BCCL headquarter and Chanch Victoriya area on February 7.
Jha further informed that the CIL management has been sitting on issues related to miners for a long time compelling them to launch the agitation.
“Unfit employees dependent on medical, land losers and female VRS who have not been given jobs will be protesting. Moreover, despite heavy profit, CIL management has curtailed facilities of miners such like 13-day wage deduction, transport facilities to students of miners among others,” he said.
Jha said that the main demands of miners include cashless medical facilities for retired miners at par with retired officers of CIL and the same for outsourcing workers at all facilities at par with regular employees of CIL.
“We have also urged CIL management as well as the Ministry of Coal to hold a meeting with all four trade unions including INTUC for reviewing the 19 percent MGB given to miners in the 11th NCW agreement held at Kolkata on January 3 as the profits of CIL has increased,” Jha said. He also reiterated that without INTUC’s nod no agreement would be accepted.
