NLC staff strike begins

[1]

Cuddalore: In all, 28,000 employees and contract workmen of Neyveli Lignite Corporation on Wednesday night went on an indefinite strike protesting the Centre’s decision to divest five  per cent equity in the public sector undertaking.
The strike decision was taken by the joint action council (JAC) comprising over 18 trade unions including the recognized trade unions of Labour Progressive Front and Anna Workers and Staff Union.
Announcing the decision, JAC convenor and general secretary of Labour Progressive Front S. Rajavanniyan said the trade unions were yet to see the order of the Madras high court restraining them from participating in the strike.
“The management did not inform us about the high court order. We will not budge from our move and all trade unions including those affiliated to the DMK, AIADMK and the Left are participating in the strike,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
Lignite mining and po­wer generation and distribution to southern states will  be severely affected due to the strike and its impact will be felt in the next few days.  Tight security has been put in place at the Thermal Power Station I, II and Lignite Mines in Neyveli.
Court stays nlc trade unions’ proposed strike
J. V. Siva Prasanna Kumar | DC
Chennai: The Madras high court on Wednesday restrained the trade unions of Neyveli Lig­nite Corporation (NLC) from going on indefinite strike from the night of July 3 or any other date thereafter.
The interim injunction was granted by the first bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Rajesh Ku­mar Agrawal and Justice T. Raja, on a writ appeal by the NLC represented by its general manager (HR) M. Maheswaran who contended that the PSU was a “public utility service” and that no person employed in a public utility service could go on strike in breach of contract.
“Neither in the interest of the country, which is facing shortage of power, more so in TN, nor in the interest of  em­ployees, that the regular working of the mines and power plants  should not be hampered,” he said.
It was essential that the larger interests of the nation should prevail over individual views of unions bent upon opposing the disinvestment by the Central government. Pai­nting a grim picture on the impact of the prolonged strike, he said open cast mining involved regular pumping of sub-soil water under controlled conditions.
“If activity is interrupted, the mine area will be flooded with unimaginable con­s­equen­ces and cause permanent loss… lack of lignite will make plants inefficient and cause hurdles in restarting power plants,” he said.
NLC has in its rolls 17,000 employees at Ney­veli including about 13,000 in workmen category. About 10,000 contract wor­kers are engaged throu­gh contractors for carrying out the mining works.