Cola India the world’s largest coal miner has agreed in principle to increase wages of workers by 25%. However, the workers are unhappy and said they would take up the matter in the next meeting of the wage negotiation committee on January 27.

Mr Jibon Roy general secretary of the All India Coal Workers Federation affiliated to left backed Centre for Indian Trade Unions told Business Standard that “The management had decided to settle the talks on 25% rise in the last meeting. The workers’ unions did not agree on this. There would be problems in the next meeting unless the management brings about rationalization and parity in wages of workers versus executives.”

The unions have been demanding an increase in post retirement benefits to 30% of the basic salary as against 21% available now.

He said that “Also, while executives are given a coal mine allowance of seven per cent, workers get none. This has created a serious disparity. We are demanding that the minimum wage of permanent workers should be given to contract workers.”

(Sourced from BS)