Central trade unions, including Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and All India Trade Union Congress, have demanded that non-executive employees of Coal India receive salaries in accordance with the latest wage agreement, National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA) XI. They have issued a joint strike notice, threatening a three-day strike starting from October 5 to October 7, 2023, if their demands are not met.

Coal India Ltd (CIL) has received this strike notice and promptly addressed a letter to the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), requesting intervention and conciliation to protect the interests of both the company and the nation. CIL emphasized that the coal industry has been designated as a "public utility service," highlighting the critical need for uninterrupted coal production and supply to power plants to ensure electricity generation and supply.

The trade unions' notice insists that the salaries of non-executive employees should align with NCWA XI. The strike threat stems from the unions' determination to enforce these demands if they are not met by the management, as outlined in NCWA XI.

In June 2023, the coal ministry had approved a wage revision agreement for non-executive employees of Coal India. This agreement, negotiated by the Joint Bipartite Committee for the Coal Industry (JBCCI)-XI, includes provisions for a 19% minimum guaranteed benefit from July 1, 2021, covering emoluments such as basic pay, Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), Special Dearness Allowance (SDA), and attendance bonus. Additionally, it entails a 25% increase in allowances.

The agreement was reached in May through collaboration between representatives of CIL management, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), central trade unions, and the Indian National Mine Workers' Federation (INMF).