Punjab Power engineers sounds agitation bugle in peak summer season
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ July 31,2024
In the peak summer season, when the power demand has crossed all limits and engineers are working in tight conditions, Punjab state electricity board engineers association (PSEBEA) has issued a ‘Notice for Agitation against Hostile Work Environment and Non Resolution of Issues’ to the CMDs of PSPCL and PSTCL.
The association spokesperson said “ we are demanding the immediate revocation of the unwarranted suspension of Sr. XEN Store, Kotkapura and our key demand, regarding resolution of pay scale related issues. It is regrettable that management has not taken any step to resolve these serious issues.”
Jasvir Singh Dhiman, PSEBEA president said “there is immense resentment among power engineers due to the hostile work environment, indiscriminate suspensions/ disciplinary actions, and the indifferent attitude of management towards pending issues of engineers i.e reductions in pay scales for AEs, TBPS, and other pay scale matters. This situation has severely affected morale and productivity within the engineering cadre, which will undoubtedly impact the overall power situation”
Ajaypal Singh Atwal, general secretary of PSEBEA said “a meeting of office bearers of PSEBEA was held on dated 30-07-24. All the office bearers in one voice condemned the suspension of Sr XEN Store Kotkapura. It was also noted that other issues of engineers conveyed via memo no EA-563/90 dated 17/6/24 have been completely ignored. As no response has been received from the management, the office bearers have been constrained to take decision to start agitation”
Atwal added that the association has chalked out a agitation program. Now “all Engineers of West Zone, Bathinda will switch off official mobile phones in non-working hours (i.e. 5PM to 9AM) from 30/7/24 onwards. Zonal protest rallies will be held across Punjab from 1/8/24 onwards. All engineers across Punjab will switch off their official Mobile phones in non working hours (i.e. 5PM to 9AM) daily from 5/8/24 onwards. Engineers on shift duties – mobile phones should be switched off during their off-hours. Also phones will be kept off during holidays including Sat/Sun. Whatsapp Calls and messages will not be entertained during the protest hours.”
He added that “engineers have been pushed to the corner, and under these circumstances, if the unconditional revocation of the suspension of Sr. XEN Store Kotkapura, is not carried out and the pending issues of power engineers are not resolved immediately, the Association will be compelled to intensify the agitation further. The responsibility for this escalation will rest with the management.”
Punjab Power engineers sounds agitation bugle in peak summer season. The association has also forwarded their agitation plan to the Power Minister Punjab, Chief Secretary, ACS/Power, and all the Directors PSPCL & PSTCL
