The strike by the Telangana Electricity Contract Employees JAC from Monday, in support of their demand for regularisation, has only been partial and so far, has not affected the services of the power utilities including TSGenco, TSTransco, and the two discoms.
While the JAC claimed that 80 per cent of contract and outsourced employees participated in the strike, officials from the TSSPDCL informed that it had not exceeded 50 per cent. Supply being stable, and with no other contingencies, the effect of the strike was not felt, they said. “Over 18,000 workers participated in the strike, though the effect was not felt due to stable weather conditions,” S. Sridhar Goud, member of the JAC said.
However, CMD of TSGenco and TSTransco, D. Prabhakar Rao, said none from TSGenco and only 40 per cent of employees from TSTransco took part in the strike. He claimed that alternative arrangements had been made to tackle a crisis-like situation.
The JAC, on Saturday, had given a call for indefinite strike from Monday onwards, demanding regularisation of employees, and direct payment of salaries by the government. Over 22,000 contract workers are employed in various sections of the four public sector companies. “We are willing to consider the direct payment demand, but the JAC is asking us to remove the supervisory role of contractors too. That is not acceptable to us,” Mr. Rao said.
We are willing to consider the direct payment demand, but the JAC is asking us to remove the supervisory role of contractors too. That is not acceptable to us
D. Prabhakar Rao
CMD of TSGenco and TSTransco
