The protesting employees are demanding a hike in salaries and the implementation of other benefits for them.
Published Apr 23, 2023 | 9:07 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 24, 2023 | 5:13 PM
Telangana power employees protesting on 24 March, 2023 in front of the TS Genco and TS Transco office in Hyderabad.(Ajay Tomar/South First
Plans of some of Telangana power trade unions to go on strike from Tuesday, 25 April, are still on track days after the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) barred strikes after receiving a notice of boycott served by the trade unions.
Of the 24 unions of the Telangana State Power Employees Joint Action Committee (TSPEJAC), the trade unions that served notice are the Telangana Vidyut Employee’s Union (TVEU), ITEHAD Electricity Contract Employees Union, and a few others.
The protesting employees are demanding a hike in salaries as per the recommendations of the Pay Revision Commission (PRC), as well as the implementation of other benefits.
Meanwhile, the TSSPDCL on Friday prohibited strikes for a period of six months from 25 February this year under the Telangana Essential Services Maintenance Act.
After a massive protest was carried out on 24 March by around 30,000 Telangana power in front of the TS Genco and TS Transco Vidyut Soudha office in Khairatabad, the management invited the unions for another round of talks on various demands.
Telangana power employees protest in on 24 March infront of the TS Genco and TS Transco Vidyut Soudha office. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
A TVEU worker who was present at the protest told South First that their pay revision — as suggested by the PRC — is a quadrennial exercise, but had been pending from 1 April, 2022.
Those appointed between 1999 and 2004 are demanding that they be included in the General Provident Fund (GPF) facility rather than the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).
Artisans in power utilities also want solutions to their long-pending service problems.
“We have given them a standing order to change the existing service rules. This will help them avail medical and other benefits,” TVEU general secretary S Sailu told South First
“Right now, the salary of our employees is ₹ 25,000. We want them to increase it by a minimum of ₹15,000, but the management wants an increase of only ₹3,000. How is an employee expected to survive when there is so much inflation?” he asked.
He added that the TSSPDCL management had not approached them so far regarding the 25 April strike.
“Around 19,000-20,000 employees of the two unions — the TVEU and the ITEHAD Electricity Contract Employees Union — will boycott duties from 25 April,” Sailu claimed.
The electricity employees had decided to go on a statewide strike from 17 April, but it was called off due to divisions within the group.
While the TSPEJAC, comprising 24 unions, issued a strike notice, the TSEEJAC, which represents eight unions, opposed it.
As per reports, the TSPEJAC was backing the strike demanding a 30 percent hike in salaries, while the TSEEJAC opposed it due to summer and examinations.
#Telangana electricity workers demand for Pay Revision Commission (PRC) and conversion of employees from contract to permanent.
"Last PRC was done in 2018 and it's compulsory every 4 years," a worker to @TheSouthfirst pic.twitter.com/0f8wRqjwVf
— Ajay Tomar (@ajaytomarasks) March 24, 2023
The Genco and the Transco are citing the memorandum of settlement signed on 15 April between them and the trade unions apart from an agreement signed on 19 April before the Joint Commissioner of Labour under the Industrial Disputes Act to oppose the strike.
They have stated that all electricity employees are expected to rise to the occasion by maintaining a high level of efficiency in supplying power in view of the ongoing Rabi agricultural season and summer season in Telangana.
This is because the shortage in power supply now would cause undue hardships to all categories of consumers.
As per reports, the TSSPDCL has directed all functional heads at corporate offices and other chief officials to identify the employees who resort to striking, instigate other employees to participate in the strike, or provide any financial aid to illegal strike, as such action would constitute grave misconduct.
Meanwhile, TVEU president K Madhu Kumar has alleged that the Genco and the Transco were taking the help of the police to “illegally” arrest employees at the divisional level.
