Protesting PSPCL and Transco employees accuse govt of backtracking on agreements

The protest by outsourced and contractual employees of PSPCL and Transco over their demands entered its 14th day on Friday. The employees, protesting since July 25, demonstrated outside the PSPCL Circle Office here and the office of the SE, Civil Design and Construction Headquarters, at Hajipur.

Raising slogans against the state government and Power Department management, they alleged that the government was backtracking on written agreements reached with the employees’ representatives.

Hardev Singh, state coordination committee member and circle president of the Mukerian Hydel Project, Talwara, said a recent meeting with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema had not provided any relief. He alleged that the government was delaying the employees’ demands despite repeated talks and agreements.

Vijay Dosadka and Akshay Redu Patti said notifications had been issued for some categories of employees under earlier agreements, but appointment letters had not been issued. For other categories, they added, no notification or concrete action had been taken.

Among other demands, the employees are seeking regularisation, job security and equal pay for equal work. They threatened to intensify the agitation if their demands were not addressed through a written decision. Employees from four power houses of the Mukerian Hydel Project participated in the protest.