United Struggle In Coal Industry results in unique agreement

All India Coal Workers Federation (CITU) The Indian National Mine Workers Federation (INTUC), the Indian Mine Workers Federation (AITUC), Akhil Bharatiya Khadan Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and Hind Khadan Mazdoor Federation (HMS) have jointly issued the following statement on January 5, 2009

WE warmly congratulate the five and a half lakh coal workers all over India for the remarkable unity achieved by them which resulted in a successful conclusion of a memorandum of understanding which provides for a five year wage agreement with neutralization in rise in cost of living and achieved 24 per cent minimum guaranteed benefit at all levels.

This highest ever agreement was possible due to three day nation wide strike call given unitedly by the five coal federations from January 5 to 7, 2009 and launched a vigorous campaign all over the country to make the strike like call a grand success.

It has been agreed to resolve the other issues shortly and the agreement will be made effective from July 1, 2006.

The five federations appealed to the coal workers to strengthen the unity achieved during this struggle so that on the other outstanding issues satisfactory solution can b achieved through united strength of Coal miners.