The Coal India workers union are threatening to go on a three day strike. Coal India accounts for over 80 percent of domestic coal production. The strike could aggravate shortage of coal supplies to power plants. Over 40 power stations have coal stocks of less than a week.
Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal is scheduled to meet the workers union leader today. Coal India workers are demanding higher bonus and pay revision. They are threatening to go on immediate strike if no solution comes out of the meeting today.
Coal India has so offered a bonus of Rs 17,000 but the union's demand is for Rs 23,500. Last Monday the union were on a day strike for same demands.
Each day strike can cause loss of Rs.120-150 crore to Coal India whose production gets hit by 1 MT each day. Coal India has already missed its half yearly target by 20 million tonnes.