People's Democracy

THROUGH a statement issued from New Delhi on December 5, four coalminers’ federations, led by the BMS, HMS, AITUC and CITU, warmly congratulated six lakh coal mine workers for the unprecedented successful three-day strike from December 3 to 5. The strike was observed in protest against the bill to privatise the coalmining sector, to demand immediate payment of wage arrears due since the last national agreement with the coal workers, and to press for other demands.

The strike was total in most of the coalmines and establishments of all the coal companies, demonstrating remarkable unity of the coal workers irrespective of affiliations in their struggle against the anti-public sector and anti-worker policy of the government. All attempts made by the Coal India management and the government of India to break the strike or weaken the workers’ unity through their misinformation and divisive campaigns miserably failed.

The four federations asked the government of India to take into account the strong resentment felt by the coal workers and also their strong determination to fight, as demonstrated by the three-day strike action, and not to pursue the bill to privatise the coalmining sector.

The federations appealed to the coal workers to further strengthen the magnificent unity achieved during the strike and be prepared for a long drawn struggle to oppose coal mines’ privatisation if the government of India continues to pursue its suicidal policies. (INN)