Trade unions have announced an indefinite strike from the night of July 3 to protest the Centre’s move to divest five per cent shares of NLC.
If all employees of the Navaratna company participate in the strike, southern states, including Tamil Nadu, could face a power crisis. Representatives of all trade unions participated in a consultative meeting held at Labour Progressive Front’s (LPF) office at Neyveli on Monday to discuss the preparatory work for the strike.
LPF, Anna Thozhilalar-Uzhiyar Sangam, Pattali Thozil Sangam, AITUC, CITU, Jeeva Contract Labourers’ Association were among the unions that participated in the meet.
Source said, “If the entire work force of NLC strike, power generation would be affected. Presently, NLC is producing 2,490 MW power. Southern states such as TN, Kerala, Puducherry, Karnataka, AP may face power shortage problem.” A delay by four associations to vouch their participation in the protest against disinvestment forced all other NLC trade unions to postpone the official announcement about the strike by another day.
Sources said all the trade unions of NLC may intimate the management about the strike on Monday. Four associations — Officers’ Association, Engineers’ Association, Graduate Engineers’ Assocition and National Graduate Engineers’ Association — asked for some more time to decide about their involvement in the stir. I Nedumaran, GEA president, said, “During previous strikes in NLC, all unions were united. This time, four associations have asked for more time to discuss the matter