Punjab: Powermen on 3-day strike from today, supply likely to be hit

Power consumers in the state may be in for inconvenience from Monday as Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) workers have decided to proceed on three-day mass leave. Over 10 unions have decided to observe strike in protest against the non-fulfilment of promises by the management.

Threatening to bring power department operations to halt against what they called anti-worker and anti-pensioner policies, the employees allege “widespread resentment across nearly every cadre of the PSPCL and the PSTCL”.

“Mishandling of legitimate issues by the management and the Punjab Government over staff shortage and salaries has left us with no option but to go on strike,” said the unions.

The PSEB Engineers’ Association has also extended support to the genuine demands of employees over salary, old pension scheme and recruitment of regular staff to address shortage of manpower. “We have requested the CM to resolve the issues at the earliest. The safety of power infrastructure is our highest priority, but the genuine demands of the employees deserve a timely resolution,” said Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, general secretary of the PSEB Engineers’ Association.

In a letter issued to its members with copies to the CM, Power Minister and corporation management, the union said its members had been performing “critical duties to prevent any inconvenience to the public”, so the board must ensure their safety.

Meanwhile, the PSPCL management has asked its employees to not leave the station and ensure all services or face action.

A joint meeting among PSPCL/PSTCL managements, employees, pensioners and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, ended without any positive outcome on Sunday afternoon. The unions said all power department employees would proceed on mass leave from August 11 to 13, bringing all power operations to a halt.

Representatives of PSEB Employees Joint Forum, Bijli Mulazam Ekta Manch, Association of Junior Engineers, Grid Sub Station Employees Union, Powercom/Transco Pensioners Union and Pensioners Welfare Federation (Pehlwan) have expressed disappointment over the alleged non-serious and non-committal attitude of the management and the minister.