The Joint Action Committee of Central Trade Unions of Coal Industry called an all-India strike from August five to 11 to protest the privatisation policies of the Centre. A press release issued by the committee said that as a precursor to the strike, coal workers would stage dharna in front of the head office of Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries.

The demands included withdrawal of anti-labour laws, immediate payment of arrears, stopping import of coal and withdrawal of coal mines (nationalisation) amendment bill, 2000.
Bureau Report