Andhra Pradesh - Khammam   

SCCL puts contingency plan in place

KHAMMAM: The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) management has put into operation its contingency plan to ensure continuous coal production in its coal mines despite the strike launched by the AITUC-affiliated Singareni Collieries Workers' Union from Monday.

The measures are part of efforts to comply with coal supply commitments with the thermal power stations and other allied industries.

Sources say that the plans envisage motivating the miners to continue their work even after expiry of their shift timings in the subsequent shifts on payment of overtime wages. The company has made special arrangements to provide them food and other required material at the mines during their overtime work.

Sources maintain that the management has entered into fresh talks with the recognised union under the supervision of the Regional Labour Commissioner in Hyderabad to find an amicable solution to the impasse over the demands put forth by the union.

While keeping the talks options wide open, the management is actively considering a proposal to invoke the provisions of the AP Essential Services Maintenance Act as well as the company's standing orders against the striking workers if they chose to continue the strike, sources added.

‘Unreasonable'

The management has already made it clear that it has conceded 16 out of the 47 demands and termed the remaining as unreasonable citing their financial implications on the company.

On the other hand, the recognised union is insisting that all its demands, including reopening of the closed dispensaries in the coal belt, provision of charge allowance to the mining staff on par with CIL, and enhancement of special incentive on net profits to 25 per cent, should be conceded forthwith.

Meanwhile, the police have made elaborate security arrangements at all the mines across the coal belt to prevent untoward incidents during the ongoing strike.

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