State-owned Coal India has announced that a three-day strike called by five central trade unions scheduled for this month at all its subsidiaries has been deferred. This decision comes after a court ordered Coal India Limited (CIL) management to pay salaries according to the latest agreement.

Five trade unions, including BMS, INTUC, CITU, AITUC, and HMS, had initially called for a strike from October 12 to 14 over wage payment issues. However, the strike was postponed in light of the court's order.

The strike had initially been planned for October 5-7 but was rescheduled to October 12-14. On September 20, CIL had received a joint strike notice from central trade unions for the earlier dates.

The coal ministry had previously approved a wage revision agreement for non-executive employees of Coal India in June. The agreement included a 19% minimum guaranteed benefit from July 1, 2021, on various emoluments, including basic pay and allowances.

Coal India is a significant contributor to domestic coal production, accounting for over 80% of the country's coal output, with an average daily production of about 1.5 million tonnes.

The strike's deferral should help ensure continued coal production and supply, crucial for electricity generation and supply in India, as the coal industry is considered a "Public Utility Service."

While the strike has been deferred, the underlying labor issues within the coal industry will likely continue to be addressed in negotiations between trade unions and coal company management.