Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Coal Minister Piyush Goyal will meet trade union leaders to resolve issues concerning five-day strike.
The five-day strike by coal industry workers across the country entered its second day Wednesday as negotiations between government officials and trade unions failed late last night.
On its first day, the strike impacted 75 percent of the 1.5 million tonnes of daily coal production, while fuel supplies to nearly 100 power plants across the country may also be impacted if the impasse continues.
Unions said nearly 5 lakh workers, including those of Coal India, have joined the strike.
About 5 lakh coal workers across the country went on a five-day strike yesterday which is being billed as the biggest industrial action since 1977.
The industrial action is in protest of "disinvestment and restructuring of state-run Coal India" and press for demands, including the roll-back of what unions call "process of denationalising of coal sector."
The strike call has been given by all five leading trade unions of the country, including the BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).
The strike, joined by all five major trade unions -- BMS, INTUC, AITUC, CITU and HMS -- is also likely to affect fuel supply to power plants.
CIL accounts for over 80 percent of domestic coal production.
CIL Chairman Sutirtha Bhattacharya, who assumed charge on Monday, had said he is hopeful that the situation would be resolved in an amicable manner.
With agency inputs
