Staff of State-run power sector call for 72-hour stir from today

 

 

 

Maharashtra Government and employees of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) are all set for confrontation as the unions have given a call for 3-day strike just around the Diwali time. The unions have upped the ante over ongoing privatisation in various services and new reorganisation announced by the distribution company. Seven major unions have joined hands to oppose the Government and company over what they perceive anti-worker policies.

 

The strike call is from October 9 to 11. Contd from page 1 On the other hand, Government is all ready to face the strike period and ensure that round the clock power supply remains available to consumers. After the employees’ unions served strike notices, talks were held at divisional level and also apex level. But no mid-way was found leading to breakdown of means to avoid the strike. The seven major employees unions of state run power sector in Maharashtra have come under Maharashtra Rajya Vidyut Karmachari, Abhiyante, Adhikari Kruti Samiti. The Samiti strike notice is signed by Krishna Bhoyar, General Secretary, Maharashtra Rajya State Electricity Workers Federation, Arun Pipal, Gen. Sec., Maharashtra Rajya Veej Kamgar Mahasangh, Santosh Khumkar, Gen. Sec., Subordinate Engineer Association (MSEB), Dattatray Gutte, Chief Gen. Sec., Maharashtra Rajay Veej Kamgar Congress (INTUC), Sanjay More, Gen. Sec., Maharashtra Rajya Magasvargiya Vidyut Kamgar Sanghatan, P B Uke, Gen. Sec., Maharashtra Rajya Swabhimani Vidyut Congress Union, and Prabhakar Lahane, Gen. Sec., Tantrik Kamgar Union. The unions have claimed that 72 hours strike would see participation of 86,000 workers, engineers and also 42,000 contractual workers to protest ongoing privatisation in generation, transmission and distribution companies owned by Maharashtra Government.

 

The unions claimed that Maharashtra Government’s unilateral decision to allow parallel distribution sector to private companies, one sided reorganisation, are striking at root of the profit-making State-run companies. They are also demanding pension for employees in State-run companies. The joint letter by representatives of the seven unions also claim that since January 2025, State Government has stalled any efforts to resolve the issues. Also, Government during January meeting promised to infuse Rs 50,000 crore to strengthen the State-run power companies. To attract attention of State Government for adhering to agreement, the one-day strike call has been given on October 9 and to continue for two more days if no intervention happens on part of powers that be. The major issue flagged by Kruti Samiti to justify the strike call is running 329 sub-stations of MSEDCL through outsourcing method, opposing giving Rs 200 crore MAHATRANSCO's project through TBCB method and decision to list the company IPO, etc. 

 

 

A last ditch effort on the part of State Government to avert showdown with workers in energy sector could not materialise as Kruti Samiti rejected memorandum of minutes (MoM) circulated on October 7. The MoM was related to talks held on October 6 with Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Energy, and Managing Director, MSEDCL. The release of Kruti Samiti said that mention of Electricity Act 2003 in MoM was misleading as no talks were held about the same and no clear-cut mention about opposition to issuance of parallel distribution licence to private players was missing. Also, there was also the issue of manning 329 sub-stations of MSEDCL through Section Engineers and notifying MPR in one month was omitted. Also, when talks about pension was not held and yet, same was included in MoM and hence, same was rejected, the Samiti further stated. They have also pressed for further talks on TBCB method being imposed on MAHATRANSCO.

 

 

A showdown seems imminent as Maharashtra Government has invoked Maharashtra Essential Service Maintenance Act (MESMA) to counter the strike call given by employees union in 3-power companies of State. With talks held between Kruti Samiti and Government and company representative failing to resolve the issues, the State invoked emergency measures to ensure that power sector is not affected in strike period. Already, senior officers of 3 power companies, MahaGenco, MAHATRANSCO and MSEDCL readied emergency measures to ensure that strike does not affect either power generation, transmission or distribution in Maharashtra. Orders have been issued to cancel all leave and all employees, engineers and officer have been told to remain present on duty. MSEDCL has appealed consumers to contact on toll free numbers in case of power failure. The numbers are 1912/18002123435/ 1800233343. MSEDCL rejected claims of privatisation of 329 sub-centres saying only staff attending repair and fuse calls would be supplied by private players.