Major political parties vie for winning stakes in SCCL trade union elections

 ADILABAD: Trade Unions affiliated to major political parties are gearing up for the elections to be held in August for a recognized trade union in Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).

These elections have become crucial for BJP, Congress, BRS, and Left parties in the run-up to the next Assembly elections, which are round the corner.

The issue of privatization of SCCL, jobs and workers' welfare will be the issues that will figure prominently in the campaign.

AITUC, affiliated to CPI, a strong trade union in the SCCL, has twice been defeated by Boggugani Karmika Sangam (TBGKS). Now, CPI is to ditch the ruling BRS in the SCCL elections, though they were in deep discussions over an alliance in the next Assembly elections.

BRS and BJP are at loggerheads over the proposed privatization of SCCL.

On the other hand, INTUC, affiliated to Congress, is trying to expose both the BRS and BJP on various issues pertaining to Singareni Collieries.

INTUC secretary-general Janak Prasad says that ‘the state government owes Rs 12,000 crore to SCCL, which has been pushed into a financial crisis because of that. Welfare schemes for workers would have been implemented in a better way had the state government cleared the dues’.

Congress leaders allege that 1.5 lakh employees used to work in the SCCL and their number has been reduced to 42,000. Most of those rendered jobless were locals, they said, adding that the state government has power and coal supply dues.

They say BRS leaders have no moral right to oppose the privatisation of SCCL since its MPs supported the MMD Bill that was aimed at privatising coal mines. It also gave Koyagudem mine to Aurobindo company recently, they said.   

All the major political parties are focusing on the SCCL elections since it is spread over four districts and will have a direct bearing on 24 Assembly constituencies.

The SCCL has become a major political issue because of retrenchment of its employees, no new recruitments and non-payment of compensation to those who suffered health issues while working in opencast mines.  

The cadre and leadership of AITUC are not in favour of an alliance with TBGKS. However, CPI’s top leadership is also not coming out openly favoring the alliance with the TBGKS.

The BJP is making all-out efforts to win the trade union elections at SCCL, although Singareni Coal Mines Karmika Sangh (BMS) is not as strong as TBGKS and AITUC.