The Hindu Business Line : Workers from 3 power utilities to go on strike

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Workers from 3 power utilities to go on strike

3-day strike to start from Tuesday midnight

Strike call
Demand for pension on the lines of the State Government employees.
Unions demand cancellation of the ‘franchise model’ for power distribution.
ESMA Act to be invoked against striking workers.

Our Bureau

Mumbai, Aug. 20 More than 45,000 workers of the three utility companies of the Maharashtra Government have called for a three-day strike starting Tuesday midnight.

They are demanding pension on the lines of the State Government employees and cancellation of the ‘franchise model’ for power distribution.

Workers of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL), Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd (MSPGCL) and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (MSPGCL), affiliated to 10 major unions out of 27, would be on strike.

The workers’ unions are primarily opposing the franchise model, by which loss-making circles in the State would be given to private companies for power distribution. The unions see this model as an attempt to privatise the companies.

Since January 2007, Torrent Power is carrying out power distribution to 1.6 lakh customers in the textile town of Bhiwandi near Mumbai.

The State Government has decided to give 10 such loss making circles to private companies.

‘Pension scheme unviable’

Dr A.B. Pandey, Managing Director of MSEDCL, addressing the media on Monday said that the pensions scheme, which was submitted by the unions, was unviable. Their demand would put additional burden on all the three companies.

The State Government has also rejected their demand. The franchise model is a national policy, which the three companies cannot roll back, he said.

Dr Pandey said that ESMA Act has been invoked and all the companies would take strict actions against striking employees.

Power generation would largely remain unaffected, as the numbers of striking employees from MSPGCL are very low.

Help would also be sought from NTPC, Reliance Energy and Tata Power to keep the power flowing to the consumers, he said.

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