Electricity Employees Announces Strike after 15 Days

By Samachar Vishesh News

Chandigarh 24^th September:- The Electricity Employees of Chandigarh under the banner of the U.T. Powermen Union, Chandigarh held a massive dharna and demonstration on today 24-09-2019 before the Electricity Office, Sector-17, Chandigarh against the proposal of Chandigarh Administration to corporatize / privatize the well running and profit earning U.T. Electricity Department, Chandigarh and also against the non fulfillment of other long pending demands which includes stoppage the process of privatization of the well running, project earning UT Electricity Department, filling up the vacant posts, amendments in Recruitment rules of various categories, grant 09/16/23 years promotional scale, provide T & P, safety devices and procurement of material in the department, stoppage of calling panels of SDO, JE and other catagories ignoring legitimate promotional right of UT cadre officers and employees.

Gopal Datt Joshi, General Secretary, Amrik Singh, Raj Pal, Pan Singh, Paramjit Singh, Kashmir Singh strongly criticize the privatization policy of govt. of India and said that on one side Govt. of India time and again highlighting that only sick public sector /power sector which are in loss will be privatized but contrary to the statements and decisions of Govt. of India the Chandigarh Administration is privatizing the well running and profit making U.T. Electricity Department Chandigarh and implementing the failed structure like Orissa, Enron (Maharashtra) and Andhra Pradesh etc. One of other reason of privatizing of power sector was huge loss of SEBs which was Rs. 26000 Crores  before the unbundling which was increased now to Rs. 10 Lakh Crore. But even in spite of 100% shortage  of staff and acute shortage of material the Chandigarh Electricity Department is earning approx.. Rs. 100 crores of profit. The department accredited as best utility in the country by the JERC and bagged the tag consistently for last 5 years. Most profit earning department, never went into loss despite having no generation and compromising on contribution of states only. Best consumer services despite huge shortage of staff. Ratio of disposal of public grievances is much less than the standards fixed by the JERC. Line losses to the tune of 9% to 10% only, which is an example for the states. Achieved the proficiency level to the tune of 99.99% as per target fixed by JERC and G.O.I. Metered supply to the tune of 95% including slum / rural area. Minimum power outages in comparison to states. Regulating all the power outages and broadcast system of outages to the public domain, thus there is no need to privatize the department and demand that high level enquiry of the episode for which tenders are being floated time and again. 

Dhian Singh, Acting President, Sukhwinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Narinder Chaudhary, Daler Singh, Surinder Goel, Swaran Singh and other leaders equally criticized the authorities of the Electricity Department for their negative attitude towards the genuine demands of the employees and blamed that the authorities remained fail to implement the most urgent demands like filling up of vacant posts, amendments in recruitment rules, grant of 9/16/23 Years time bound promotional scales and implementation of DC rates to ALMs engaged through outsource agencies beside others and further blame that the authorities instead of implementing the demands are promoting deputations in U.T. Electricity Department, Chandigarh and also trying to adjust Asstt. Engineers and Junior Engineers from states of Punjab and Haryana ignoring legitimate promotional rights of U.T. Cadre Junior Engineers, Lineman, SSA & other categories and strongly demand that to withdraw the panels for deputation failing which union will lodge strong protest and intensify its struggle.

Raghubir Chand, President, Rajinder Katoch, Vijay Singh, Senior vice president, Harkesh Chand, Harpal Singh and other leaders of federation including Manmohan Singh, Ujagar Singh Mohi, Ram Swaroop and other leaders of various organization also addressed the dharna and supported the demands of U.T. Electricity Employees and warn the authorities to stop the process of privatization of profit earning of UT Electricity department failing which they will lodge joint protest alongwith peoples of City beautiful for the negative decision of Chandigarh Administration.

Dharna passed resolution to participate in joint dharna of federation  to be held on Chandigarh on 26.09.2019 and further decided to participate in national convention of Trade Union being held on New Delhi on 30^th September  against the privatization of Public Sectors. Dharna further decided to hold a Massive protest dharna and demonstration on 01.10.2019 before the Electricity Office Sector 17-E Chandigarh in which date of strike and boycotting duties during Diwali festival will be announced for which the authorities will be fully responsible for any inconvenience to the public due to ongoing agitation.