The coal mine of MCL in Angul.Telegraph picture

Angul, Oct. 10: A one-day strike today by five central coal trade unions paralysed 21 coalmines owned by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) spread over Angul, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts of the state.

There has been no coal production in any of the mines since this morning. No coal despatch had also been made to any of the power stations in the country from these coalmines.

More than 22,000 workers working under Mahanadi Coalfield Limited observed a ceasework in response to a call given by five trade unions demanding payment of Rs 25,000 as annual Durga Puja bonus and Rs 1,000 bonus to all contractual workers employed by Coal India Limited.

“There was a talk between the leaders of the five trade unions and management of Coal India Limited on September 22 in New Delhi on the issue of payment of bonus. While the trade union leaders pleaded for Rs 25,000 as bonus, the Coal India officials stuck to Rs 17,000, which was Rs 2,000 more than that of the previous year. As the talks failed, the trade unions called for a one-day strike on October 10 all over the country,” said Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh’s leader Surendra Nath Pandey.

All the nine coalmines at Talcher, 10 at Brajarajnagar and two at Basundhara were closed. All offices of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited at Talcher were also closed.

“The strike was a total success as production and despatch of coal from all the mines had been stopped. The workers were forced to go for the strike following breakdown of talks between the Coal India management and the workers’ representatives on the issue of bonus and other benefits. The strike at Talcher was, however, peaceful,” said Badal Maharana, another leader of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.

“We also got support from the president of the Mahanadi coalfields unit of the Indian Trade Union Congress and former MP Sriballav Panigrahi,” said Maharana.

Director (technical) of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited A.K. Tiwari said the strike had been peaceful with thin attendance.