CITU slams Haryana for invoking ESMA for power workers

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) today criticised Haryana government for imposing Essential Services Maintenance Act on Haryana Electricity Board workers, who called a two-day strike to protest against privatisation.
"CITU condemns the imposition of the draconian Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on the employees of Haryana State Electricity Board by the BJP-led government in Haryana," CITU General Secretary Tapen Sen said in a statement.
According to the statement, CITU extends total support and solidarity to the employees of Haryana state electricity board who have been compelled to go on a strike against the decision of the state government to privatise 23 electricity distribution subdivisions with the highest revenue potential.

This measure would increase power tariff, imposing huge burden on the common people, the consumers, besides adversely affecting the service conditions of the employees, it said.
It is bound to increase the losses further and badly affect the state's economy with wider implications on its ability to provide any relief to the poor and the common people, it added.
CITU said it is highly regrettable that the government bypassed the Joint Action Committee of the electricity employees, which has repeatedly tried to pursue the government not to resort to such retrograde measure, on the issue. Haryana government has refused to discuss the issue with the JAC and closed all doors for highlighting their grievances through constitutional means, the statement said.

This adamant and highly undemocratic attitude of Haryana government in deciding to go ahead with its decision of privatisation has left the JAC with no other option but to call for a strike on 29-30 June 2016, it said.
CITU demands the Haryana government to immediately repeal imposition of ESMA on the electricity employees, call the representatives of the JAC for discussions, and withdraw its decision to privatise the distribution subdivisions in the state.