Nationwide powermen strike on Sept 2 against Electricity (Amendment) Bill

The National Co-ordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers flayed the Centre for failing to address burning issues of the energy sector

Public sector power employees have announced a nationwide strike on September 2 over the Electricity (Amendment) Bill.

In a meeting held yesterday, National Co-ordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) flayed the Centre for allegedly failing to address the burning issues of the energy sector even as they labeled the Bill as anti-people.

The powermen had earlier sought discussion on the modified Electricity (Amendment) Bill with all the stakeholders for an “amicable settlement of the issues”.

The meeting at New Delhi was attended by the representatives of Electricity Employees Federation of India, Indian National Electricity Workers Federation, All India Federation of Electricity Employees, All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), TNEB Workers Union, All India Power Men’s Federation (AIPF) and All India Federation of Diploma Engineers.

AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey said NCCOEEE resolution mentioned that the central government was playing hide and seek on the Electricity (Amendment) Bill.

The government claimed it had referred the modified Electricity (Amendment) Bill to the states, but the states were yet to receive the copy of the amended bill, he said. “The government should give a copy of the modified Bill to the major stakeholders, including employees and engineers, so that fruitful discussion can take place.”

NCCOEEE maintained the cost of supply of power supply was increasing due to the “conspiracy” of private players, who have established domination in the power sector in the name of independent power producers (IPP), traders, franchisees and contractors for electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

The outsourcing of jobs in power sector not only leads to the exploitation of workers, but compromises the quality of work, Dubey noted.

He informed NCCOEEE had decided to launch massive campaign against the Bill as it would provide huge profit to private companies at the cost of the exchequer.