JAC to consider calling off strike in NLC

Cuddalore, July 6 (UNI) The Joint Action Council (JAC), which is spearheading an indefinite strike in Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) on the disinvestment issue, will meet this evening to consider calling off the strike, in view of Centre ''reversing'' its decision on disinvestment.

Minutes after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced in Delhi that the Centre would ''put on hold'' all its decisions and proposals for offloading its stake in public sector undertakings (PSUs), trade union leaders here said that they would consider the Union Gvernment's decision and decide on calling off the stir at 1800 hrs.

Mr G Dhandpani, President, Labour Progressive Front (LPF) and Mr Muthuvel, General Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) told UNI that JAC would take a decision this evening on whether to resume work from tonight.

Describing the Centre's decision as a ''victory'' for the workers, they said, the Union Government had come forward only to ''put on hold'' its decision, though the employees wanted it to withdraw the decision. However, they would consider the Centre's latest decision, they added.

Thanks to the jitters, given by the DMK, a key constituent of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, threatening to pull out of the ruling coalition in protest against the decision to offload ten per cent stake in the NLC, Dr Singh came out with the decision to ''put on hold'' proposals for offloading its stake in PSUs.

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