MCL workers to go on strike

Odisha Channel Bureau Angul, Nov 22: In response to the call by Central trade unions, three major coal trade unions in Mahanadi Coalfields Limited have called for total bandh on Monday next in all the 21 coalmines spreading over Angul, Jharsuguda and Sundergarh districts in Odisha.A decision was taken at central level recently to go for one day strike in Coal India Limited (CIL) protesting mainly against the amendment in Coal Mines Nationalisation Act, 1973, withdrawal of stake from CIL among others.However, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) which was earlier participated in all India strikes is skipping the strike call this time.Other central trade unions such as Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Central Indian Trade Union (CITU) have made call to paralyse entire coalmines of CIL for one day on November 24.Here in MCL, the three major trade unions INTUC, AITUC and Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) which commands over the 80 per cent of work force in the coal company including those of contractual labourers are enforcing the one day strike, according to INTUC leader Souvagya Pradhan, HMS leader Sankar Behera here and AITUC leader Sidheswar Pradhan.They have called upon the workers to make the strike successful and paralyse the coal production and dispatch.The strike is called to force the central government to accept ten-point charter of demands.