09-07-2025
Nationwide general strike: Coal mining operations hit in SCCL mines; TGSRTC bus services disrupted in Khammam district
Amplifying the voice of the working class, an overwhelming number of coal workers of the State-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) in Telangana stopped work during the one-day nationwide general strike called by ten Central trade unions to protest the Centre's 'anti-labour' policies on Wednesday.
About 85% of the total men on rolls during the first shift abstained from work impacting coal production in the SCCL's coal mines across 11 Areas spanning six districts in Telangana's coal belt, sources said.
Coal output dropped significantly during the first and second shifts even as the JAC of Singareni trade unions claimed the strike as a resounding success.
Workers owing allegiance to the JAC of Singareni trade unions, barring the BMS-affiliated Singareni Coal Mines Karmika Sangh, observed the day-long strike.
Formation of human chains, dharnas and rallies marked the protest programmes organized by the JAC of trade unions in Godavarikhani, Mandamarri, Kothagudem and elsewhere in the coal belt.
Members of the AITUC-affiliated Singareni Collieries Workers' Union, which is the SCCL's recognized union, the INTUC, the CITU-affiliated Singareni Collieries Employees' Union, Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS) and various other unions took part in different protest programmes.
In Khammam district, TGSRTC bus services were crippled by the day-long nationwide strike.
Members of the trade unions affiliated to Left parties took out a massive rally in Khammam during the general strike.
The demonstrators raised slogans demanding the repeal of the Centre's four labour codes terming them as most detrimental to the interests of the working class. They vowed to defend the hard-won labour rights.
CPI (M) Central Committee member Tammineni Veerabhadram, CPI State secretariat member B Hemanth Rao and others led the rally.
A tractor rally was organised by the CPI-affiliated Telangana Rythu Sangham in Khammam in support of the general strike.
The strike evoked mixed response in the erstwhile Karimnagar and Adilabad districts.
