Powermen union protests against administration, burn effigies

CHANDIGARH: On the call of Electrical Workmen Union, hundreds of electrical workers gathered at maintenance booth, Sector 16, and protested against the non-fulfilment of their long-pending demands on Saturday. They also burnt effigies of Chandigarh administration.
While addressing the protest rally, Rakesh Kumar, general secretary of Electrical Workmen Union, strongly condemned the lackadaisical attitude of Chandigarh administration and engineering department authorities towards the long pending and genuine demands of electrical workers.Warning the Chandigarh administration, he said if their demands are not met, the union will observe a one-day pen-down and tool-down strike on September 29, and till then will hold relay hunger strike.
While addressing the gathering, Kumar said there is huge shortage of staff and proper equipment in Electrical Circle, about which the authorities are hardly bothered.
The union members demanded job security for outsourced employees and end of hire and fire policy. They demanded the implementation of labour laws and enhancement in the salary of outsourced employees at the rate of 7% w.e.f. April 1, 2018. They also demanded implementation of old pension scheme for employees who were regularized after 2004 and appointed daily wages before 1992.
Filling up of the vacant posts in the electricity department of UT, creation of new posts as per increased work load, proper implementation of categorization of technicians and grant of arrears were some of the other issues raised.
After a lineman lost his life recently, the union members met with the concerned authorities and demanded proper equipment and safety kits for the employees, mainly for linemen and others who work in the field.
The protest rally of Saturday was addressed by general secretary Rakesh Kumar, president Kishori Lal, chairman Varinder Bisht, vice-president Yash Pal Sharma, joint secretary Dhan Singh Oswal, and Tajwar Singh and Daya Ram of Electrical Workmen Union.