Electrifying “One-Hour Nationwide Strike Action” of Electricity Workers Against Privatisation

Electrifying “One-Hour Nationwide Strike Action” of Electricity Workers Against Privatisation

Chandigarh 31 December ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Electricity Employees’ Federation of India (EEFI) congratulates the millions of Electricity Employees & Engineers for observing “One-Hour Seize Work” on 31st December 2024 from 12.00 PM – 01.00 PM across the country. The employees participated in this Strike action proposed by the EEFI and finally adopted by the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees & Engineers (NCCOEEE) to extend Solidarity and Support to the Struggling Chandigarh UT and UP Power employees. This unprecedented unique token strike was accompanied by massive mobilisations at State capitals and submission of memoranda to the Honorable President of India. This national level action is premised on the ongoing heroic anti-privatisation struggle of Chandigarh and UP Powermen. The Chandigarh UT Administration has become desperate to gift over its exemplary public power utility to a private company at throw away price. This high valued utility with annual average profit of Rs 250 Crore was put in bidding at a base price of meager Rs 174.63 Crore. Similar attacks of Privatization have been unleashed on Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd. (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd. (DVVNL) of Uttar Pradesh. These two utilities are yet to collect Rs 66,000 crore as pending bills which will be added to private kitty if these are handed over. Strikingly, the proposed reserve bid price is around paltry Rs 1,500 crore! People at large and obviously the Electricity employees are coming to the street every day. Instead of listening to the stakeholders, the Chandigarh Administration and the UP government has invoked Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) and imposed a ban against any form of public demonstration. In response, the electricity employees stood valiantly and called for one-hour Seize Work at national level in the Electricity sector. As per the primary report received till 02.30 PM, more than 24,000 i.e. 90% of the total strength of the electricity employees participated in Seize work in Kerala. Around 10,000 participated in strikes in 63 offices in Himachal Pradesh. 8,400 joined the strike in Tamil Nadu including the Generation Stations. Around 10,000 employees in Punjab, 3500 employees in Haryana, 500 in Andhra Pradesh and 350 in Assam observed Strike and protest demonstrations. Around 4,000 employees took part in Strike action in Telangana in 31 districts. Electricity employees in J&K came onto the street in the midst of a huge snowfall. Massive Strike participation Reports are pouring in from other states also. The Road Transport Workers under the banner of All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation (AIRTWF) have participated in solidarity action throughout the country at the same time. The All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF) has also extended solidarity action on the same day. The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions of India has called upon the entire trade union movement of the country to actively stand in solidarity with the struggling electricity employees. This nationwide action firmly expresses the resolute determination of India’s electricity workers to protect its public assets. The massive solidarity further demonstrates the spirit of the other section of the working class in support of the struggle. Obviously the electricity workers with most strategic striking power are determined to advance this struggle to any extent, even to the stage of indefinite strike action, if the government at the Centre does not halt its anti-people privatisation attempt of public power utilities.