Punjab: Employees of Punjab State Electricity Corporation Limited (PSPCL) have decided to go on a three-day mass leave, causing inconvenience to power consumers in the state from Monday. Over 10 unions have decided to go on strike to protest against non-fulfillment of promises by the management. Threatening to halt the functioning of the power department against anti-employee and anti-pensioner policies, the employees alleged that there is “widespread resentment among almost every cadre of PSPCL and PSTCL.” “We are left with no option but to go on strike as the legitimate issues of shortage of staff and wages are not being handled properly by the management and the Punjab government,” the unions said. The PSEB Engineers Association has also supported the employees’ legitimate demands of wages, old pension scheme and recruitment of regular employees to overcome the shortage of staff. Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, general secretary of PSEB Engineers Association, said, “We have requested the chief minister to resolve the issues at the earliest. Safety of power infrastructure is our top priority but timely resolution of the employees’ legitimate demands is a must.” In a letter issued to its members, copies of which have been sent to the chief minister, power minister and corporation management, the union said its members are performing “important duties to protect the public from any inconvenience”, so the board should ensure their safety. Meanwhile, the PSPCL management has asked its employees not to leave the station and ensure all services or be prepared for action. A joint meeting between PSPCL/PSTCL management, employees, pensioners and power minister Harbhajan Singh (ETO) on Sunday afternoon ended without any positive outcome. The unions said all employees of the power department will be on mass leave from August 11 to 13, bringing all power operations to a standstill. Representatives of PSEB Employees Joint Forum, Bijli Mulazim Ekta Manch, Junior Engineers Association, Grid Sub Station Employees Union, Powercom/Transco Pensioners Union and Pensioners Welfare Federation (PEHLAWAAN) have expressed disappointment over the alleged non-serious and non-committal attitude of the management and the minister.
Punjab: Electricity workers on three-day strike from today, supply likely to be affected
