PSPCL engineers protest-express lack of trust in management

PSPCL engineers protest-express lack of trust in management

Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in

Punjab state power corporation limited (PSPCL) engineers, who were on protest against the resolution of pending issues, today once again wrote a letter to the CMD of the powercom, to resolve the pending issues.

In the letter the association reminded the management about the “discussions held with PSPCL management on 11/6/2021 wherein management has assured to resolve the long pending issues of power engineers.”

“Association regrets to point out that the seriousness shown in the meeting to resolve the long pending issues is missing in the minutes issued. During the meeting, it was conveyed by the association that engineers have a lack of trust, as in the past also, assurances given have not been honoured. Sir, the irony is that the MOM have been distorted and are not as per discussions. You are well aware, why engineers have been on protest regarding the non-resolution of pending issues for the past many months” said the president of the association.

The general secretary of the association pointed out that “ many recent decisions of the board of directors (BOD) of PSPCL are illegal, as section 133 of Electricity Act 2003 read with Transfer scheme & Tripartite Agreement clearly indicates that pay, allowances and benefits of employees of erstwhile PSEB cannot be changed to their disadvantage. Association demanded that all such illegal decisions be withdrawn immediately. Management assured to legally examine the issue. This has been excluded from the Minutes of Meeting.It was decided to restore the employer share in NPS to 14% as per Punjab Govt. so as to make PSPCL employees at par with Punjab Govt. employees but this has been distorted in MOM.”

“It was decided to revoke the order withdrawing the broadband facility to engineers but the mom states something that was not discussed.This inimical attitude of the management has created an unnecessary and widening distrust between engineers and management, which is not only affecting the morale and productivity of engineers but has forced the engineers towards the path of an avertable industrial dispute” highlighted the engineers association.

“Despite this apparent lack of seriousness on the part of management in resolving the issues and keeping in view the interests of the power consumers of the State during the paddy season and PSEB Engineers’ Association being a responsible body of power engineers and as was already conveyed to the management during the meeting held on 11/6/21; the office bearers of the association in their meeting held on 15/6/2021 have decided to continue the ongoing protest of phone switch off from 5PM to 9 AM and postpone further agitation program to grant time till 21/6/2021 to the management, to resolve the pending issues” said the president of the association.

General secretary of the engineers association, once again highlighted the issues, to be resolved, including “ shortage of Staff and Material: To issue instructions regarding allowing replacement for CHB expelled by officers due to indiscipline, CHB rest-reliever to be allowed. Instructions regarding authorising ALM to be issued. Material procurement to be expedited so that sufficient material is available in stores for the paddy season. Restoration of the IT facilities: To allow broadband to engineers, to issue instructions for procurement of sufficient numbers of Computers/ Laptop/ Printers etc.”

They are also demanding the resolution of the issue of start scale of 18030/- to new engineers: To arrange a meeting with CM Punjab before 22/6/2021, with the intent of grant of starting scale of 18030/-  to new engineers. Restoration of the NPS share of 14%, so that the edge of power sector employees over Punjab Govt is not lost. Restoration of GI as per the previous methodology, to generation engineers and employees. Constitution of the Wage Formulation Committee.”

The association requested the CMD ” the timely resolution of pending issues by the management will help to bridge the gap of distrust between the management and the engineers and will be the right step in improving the working conditions and improving the efficiency of the corporation. Further, we assure that even during the ongoing agitation Engineers will continue to provide 24×7 service to the consumers, health care facilities and COVID facilities of the State.”

The association further decided that the “the existing protest program of phone switch off from 5PM to 9AM will be continued, but if the management fails to resolve the above issues by 21/6/2021 and other remaining issues within a fixed timeline, the agitation program will be further intensified by exiting the official WhatsApp groups on 22/6/2021, returning official SIMs on 25/6/2021, handover Mass Casual Leave to management on 2/7/2021 for Mass Casual Leave dated 13/7/2021. 2/7/2021 onwards Engineers will restore to Non-cooperation with the management. The agitation will be intensified further if the pending issues are not resolved.”

When contacted the director administration of the PSPCL, to know the management point of view, on the ongoing engineers protest, he didn’t responded to the calls, what’sapp message.

June 16,2021