Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Coal workers' union late Wednesday night called off their 5-day strike after a meeting with Coal Minister Piyush Goyal and an assurance that interest of Coal India employees would be protected.
The end of the strike on the 2nd day should come as a relief to the government and the power sector that faced the prospect of fuel supplies drying up due to closure of half of the country's coal mines during the strike.
Nationalwide coal workers' strike has been called off, Lakhan Lal Mahato, leader of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said after a marathon meeting with minister that lasted for over six hours.
Mahato, however, did not share the details of the terms and conditions of the agreement reached between the government and the unions.
The strike was called off after Goyal assured that the government had no plans for denationalisation of Coal India Limited.
Government has no plans for denationalisation and the interest of Coal India employees will be protected, the Coal Minister said.
Billed as one of the biggest industrial action in about four decades, the five-day coal strike entered its second day Wednesday, causing production loss of an estimated Rs 300 crore.
Officials said the strike has impacted over 75 percent of the daily coal output of 1.5 million tonnes, with 290 out of 438 CIL coal mines being hit. There were reports of clashes between workers and police in Jharkhand and West Bengal.
With PTI Inputs
