Power staff strike work
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, August 11
In protest against the non-fulfilment of their demands and assurances given to them by the state government at the time of the unbundling of the PSEB in April, employees of Punjab State Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) today remained on a strike in the entire state.

Though leaders of the PSEB Employees’ Joint Forum claimed that the strike was near- total, the PSPCL and PSTCL authorities claimed that it had virtually no impact. Protesting employees raised slogans against the government and held demonstrations outside the power corporation offices at the subdivision and circle levels. Protest demonstrations were also held in Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Ludhiana.

As per information, the effect of the strike was more in the distribution circle (field staff) and work at the Patiala headquarters was not much effected. “Cash collection counters of the PSPCL remained closed throughout the state and no financial transaction took place today,” said spokesperson for PSEB Employees’ Joint Forum Manjit Chahal. He claimed that in the south circle, which covers Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur and Ropar, nearly 82.77 per cent employees remained on strike.

President of the Federation AITUC Karamchand Bhardwaj said, “The government has failed to fulfill assurances given to them during the April 16 meeting held the post-PSEB unbundling. There has been no concrete and written assurance regarding protecting pension and gratuity benefits, pay fixation and service conditions of employees in newly created corporations.” The PSEB Employees’ Joint Forum has called a meeting in Patiala on Thursday. Meanwhile, Chairman-cum MD of the PSPCL KD Chaudhri termed the strike as “unjustified”. He said it had virtually no impact on the PSPCL secretariat and its all other offices here. He said adequate arrangements were made to maintain regular power supply.