Govt holds talks with union leaders

CHANDIGARH: The state government has begun talks with leaders of power corporation unions to end the deadlock over their proposed strike on June 29 and 30. Leaders of both unions – All-Haryana Power Corporation Worker Union and the HSEB Workers’ Union – were invited for talks. The talks were to begin at 4 pm here, but the leaders could reach only around 6.45 pm.

Activists of the Haryana Karamchari Talmel Committee take out a torch march in Karnal on Monday. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 27

The state government has begun talks with leaders of power corporation unions to end the deadlock over their proposed strike on June 29 and 30.

Leaders of both unions – All-Haryana Power Corporation Worker Union and the HSEB Workers’ Union – were invited for talks. The talks were to begin at 4 pm here, but the leaders could reach only around 6.45 pm.

“We received government’s invite at 11 am and many of us had to come from distance places. I, for instance, have come from Rewari,” said Kanwar Singh Yadav, state president of the HSEB Workers Union.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reviewed the situation and appealed to the agitating employees to withdraw their call for strike.

Khattar constituted a three-member committee under Chairmanship of Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar with Chief Secretary DS Dhesi and Additional Chief Secretary, Power, Rajan Gupta as its members to negotiate with the representatives of the agitating employees.

Khattar said that the government was open to talks with the employees and their genuine grievances would be redressed promptly.

He also directed the officials of the Power Department to ensure that all possible measures were taken to ensure that supply of power was not disrupted and the people were not put to any inconvenience.

Talks were continuing till the filing of this report.