The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) workers went on mass casual leave throughout the State on Monday protesting against the suspension of contractual employees who had left their duties and joined the strike on May 11 against privatisation of complaint and maintenance works of 23 subdivisions in the State.
Haryana joint action committee alleged that more than 7,000 contractual employees were suspended after May 11 strike, when 23,000 contractual and permanent employees had proceeded on a mass leave. Electricity supply was badly hit across the state due to the strike.
Those who faced the sacking order included 4,327 employees of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN), 2,188 of Uttari Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and 956 from Haryana Vidyut Parsaran Nigam (HVPN).
Earlier, the power discoms employees had announced a two-day strike on June 29 and 30 to again push for their demand but they decided to go on strike on Monday following the action against contractual employees.
The power utilities workers demanded withdrawal of suspension orders and reconsideration of Government’s decision to privatise the power distribution companies (discoms). The workers also demanded regularisation of contractual staff, removal of pay anomalies, reorganisation of the power discoms and filling of vacant posts on annual basis and timely promotion.
The protesting employees have threatened to continue their strike if their demands are not fulfilled.
Notably, the power discoms employees had earlier went on strike on May 11 against privatisation of complaint and maintenance works of 23 subdivisions in the state. Demanding scrapping of contracts with private players, around 23,000 workers under the banner of joint action committee of power utilities had staged protest in all the circle offices throughout Haryana.
The power utilities will pay Rs22 lakh to Rs23 lakh per subdivision per month to each private contractor for the maintenance and operation of lines. As per the agreement, the private contractors will take care of breakdowns and rectify faults, while government employees will collect dues and handle other departmental issues.
Notably, the losses of Power Discoms has increased from Rs1,030 crore in 2004-05 to Rs26,912 crore in 2013-14.