Uncertainty surrounds SCCL’s trade union elections as tenure of elected unions ends

Uncertainty prevails over trade union elections in Singareni Collieries Company Limited as tenure of recognised unions has ended. Rival unions demand extension or equal status, while authorities await a decision from management on conducting fresh elections or interim arrangements

Kothagudem: Uncertainty surrounds the issue of holding trade union elections in Singareni Collieries Company Limited’s (SCCL) as tenure of recognised trade union, Singareni Collieries Workers Union ended.

Singareni Collieries Workers Union, which is coal mines union of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), affiliated to CPI, won the elections held through secret ballot on December 27, 2023 for a period of two years. Its tenure ended on December 26, 2025.

Same is the case with the representative union, Singareni Coal Mines Labour Union of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), which is affiliated to Indian National Congress. The company handed over a letter to leaders of the unions in September 2024 granting the respective unions the status of recognised and representative unions.

Though tenure of both the recognised and representative unions came to close they want their status extended claiming that when the BRS was in power its trade union wing Telangana Boggu Ghani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS) enjoyed recognised union status for four years after it won the election.

TBGKS state chief general secretary Kapu Krishna told Telangana Today that when TBGKS won, election was held for a period of four years whereas election held in 2023 was for a period of two years. Hence, demand to extend the tenure of AITUC and INTUC unions stands invalid, he noted.

Meanwhile, the deputy Chief Labour Commissioner, Hyderabad has written a letter to SCCL management, ten days ago, asking whether the company would hold the elections or grant equal status to all registered trade unions. The management is yet to take a decision regarding the matter.

As the ambiguity over the issue continues, TBGKS leaders Miriyala Raji Reddy and Kapu Krishna recently met SCCL Chairman and Managing Director Jyothi Buddha Prakash asking him to accord equal status to all registered unions in the company until the elections are held. No decision is taken with regard to the request.

The status of recognised/representative union allows leaders of the respective unions to represent company workers in official meetings and events. The trade union election in SCCL was held in 1998, subsequently in 2003, 2007, 2012, 2018 and in 2023.