Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the issue related to indefinite strike by workers of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC).
The chief minister asked the PM to instruct the Union coal ministry to immediately look into the grievances of the NLC workers and settle the issue amicably at the earliest in the interest of the industrial climate of Tamil Nadu as well as in the interest of ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the state.
In a letter to Modi, Jayalalithaa said, “I am writing this letter seeking your urgent intervention in connection with the strike in Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC). The workers belonging to the recognised unions of NLC have gone on indefinite strike from July 20 seeking an early and satisfactory wage revision settlement. As you are aware, NLC is one of the main sources of power for Tamil Nadu and about 1,450 MW is procured by Tamil Nadu from the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Complex”.
Jayalalithaa said she has been told that the wage settlement for NLC workers was due since January 1, 2012 and though they have been given interim relief in June, 2014, their wage settlement has not been made so far.
“I have also been informed that NLC is a profit-making public sector undertaking. I, therefore, request you to kindly instruct the ministry of coal to immediately look into the grievances of the NLC workers and settle the issue amicably at the earliest,” she said.