UP Power Corporation employees are gearing for a showdown with the state government over pay revision. Power Employee’s Joint Action Committee (PEJAC) has given a call for indefinite work boycott from July 6. The employees of 400 kV sub-stations of UP Power Transmission Corporation will however not join the boycott.
The Power employees will stage state-wide protest on June 29. The implementation of recommendation of Seventh Pay Commission for state employees with effect from January 2016 has prompted the Power employees to demand pay revision as their last pay revision was done in 2009.
Earlier in 1998, Power employees had struck work indefinitely demanding pay revision. The strike was called off after eight days only after their demand for pay revision was accepted by the state government.
Convener of the PEJAC Shailendra Dube said on Friday that on June 29, Power employees at all project sites and districts will stage a day-long 'satyagrah' in support of their demands. Seeking intervention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Power minister Srikant Sharma, the Convener said that the CM should intervene to prevent confrontation and industrial unrest.
Dube said that for Central and state government staff, the recommendations of Seventh Pay Commission have been implemented and they were drawing benefits in pay, perks and other facilities while the same benefits have been denied to Power employees.
This has resulted in deep resentment among Power staff and their salaries should also be revised with effect from January 1, 2016. The Power employees joining service on and after January 2000 should be given benefit of old pension scheme," said t he Convenor.
For contractual employees, the Committee demanded that payment of salary be made to them directly by Power Corporation instead of the contractor. Dube said that if their demands were not accepted then the Power employees would launch an indefinite work boycott.