Report by KEC correspondent
The strike call given by the Joint Action Committee received an enthusiastic response in Maharashtra. The power sector workers in particular showed their power in this strike. The State Government, which had turned a deaf ear to the demands of the workers so far, was forced to send the Energy Minister to discuss with the workers.
According to reports received, in places like Amravati ad Buldhana, members of the BMS (Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh) defied their union’s decision and joined the strike. Regretfully two unions betrayed the strike call by dropping out at the last moment. However, many members of these unions resigned their membership and joined the strike. In a few places, tempos carrying contract workers were chased away. In many places contract workers as well as outsourced workers joined the strike and the union leadership assured them that their unity would ensure that not even a hair on their head would be harmed.
Akola
Aurangabad
Bhandup, Mumbai
Chandrapur
Gondia
Koyna Hydroelectric Power Plant
Nagpur
Nashik
Thane
Press Release issued by the Maharashtra Rajya Veej Karmachari, Abhiyante, Adhikari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti (Maharashtra State Electricity Employees, Engineers, Officers Joint Struggle Committee) and Maharashtra Rajya Veej Kantrati Kamgar Sanghatana Kruti Samiti (Maharashtra State Electricity Contract Workers Unions Action Committee)
Press Release,
27.03.2021
The Hon’ble Energy Minister discussed the strike with the trade unions. It was decided to continue the strike till after the written agreement.
The agitation, which has been going on for 2 months by Maharashtra Rajya Veej Karmachari, Abhiyante, Adhikari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti (Maharashtra State Electricity Employees, Engineers, Officers Joint Struggle Committee) and Maharashtra Rajya Veej Kantrati Kamgar Sanghatana Kruti Samiti (Maharashtra State Electricity Contract Workers Unions Action Committee) finally turned into a two-day agitation. All the 39 unions which had a constructive influence on the power workers joined the strike and power generation in Maharashtra began to stop. The situation was such that the state would go into darkness. Therefore, the Hon’ble Energy Minister had no option but to hold a video conference meeting today and discussed with the key representatives of all the organizations. He apologized for the late discussion and requested that the strike be called off.
In this regard, the union representatives unanimously declared that there should be a written agreement not to do privatisation, hydropower plants should not be privatized, and that the Central Government’s amended Electricity Act 2021 should be opposed. The process of filling vacancies in all the three companies should be immediately started. The unilaterally decided Transfer Policy should be cancelled and a new transfer policy should be decided after discussion with the workers’ organisations. Contract workers should be protected in the job for at least 60 years. These demands should be discussed tomorrow and a written agreement signed. This was the demand made by the workers’ unions in a meeting with the Energy Minister. The Energy Minister said that the demand will be discussed again on March 29 in Mumbai. Accordingly, a meeting will be held with the Hon’ble Energy Minister and a decision will be taken regarding the strike and further agitation.
The strike will continue for the time being. The workers’ organisations have decided to continue the strike till an official agreement is reached between the Joint Struggle Committee and the Action Committee. Employees are urged not to fall prey to any rumors. The strike is going on peacefully and in a disciplined way across the state and the striking organisations are ensuring that the electricity users will not be troubled in any way.
Yours sincerely
Maharashtra Rajya Veej Karmachari, Abhiyante, Adhikari Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti (Maharashtra State Electricity Employees, Engineers, Officers Joint Struggle Committee), and
Maharashtra Rajya Veej Kantrati Kamgar Sanghatana Kruti Samiti (Maharashtra State Electricity Contract Workers Unions Action Committee)