IN an unprecedented show of solidarity, millions of electricity employees and engineers across India observed a ‘One-Hour Nationwide Strike Action’ on December 31, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. The strike, organised by the Electricity Employees’ Federation of India (EEFI) and supported by the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees & Engineers (NCCOEEE), was in protest against the privatisation of public power utilities and to extend support to the ongoing struggles of electricity workers in Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh.
Massive mobilisations were reported at state capitals, where memoranda were submitted to the President of India. The protest highlighted the plight of workers and the public as the Chandigarh Union Territory (UT) Administration and the Uttar Pradesh government move to privatise profitable power utilities.
The Chandigarh UT Administration has proposed selling its profitable public power utility, which generates an annual profit of Rs 250 crore, for a base price of only Rs 174.63 crore. Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, the Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd. (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd. (DVVNL) are set to be privatised at a reserve bid price of Rs 1,500 crore. These two utilities are yet to collect Rs 66,000 crore as pending bills which will be added to the kitty of private enterprises if these are handed over.
People at large, along with electricity employees, have been taking to the streets daily. Instead of addressing the concerns of the stakeholders, the Chandigarh administration and the Uttar Pradesh government invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and imposed a ban on any form of public demonstration. In response, the electricity employees displayed remarkable resolve and called for a one-hour nationwide "seize work" action in the electricity sector.
As per the preliminary reports received by 2:30 pm on December 31, more than 24,000 electricity employees, accounting for 90 per cent of the total workforce, participated in the "seize work" action in Kerala. Around 10,000 employees joined the strike in 63 offices across Himachal Pradesh, while 8,400 participated in Tamil Nadu, including staff from generation stations. Approximately 10,000 employees in Punjab, 3,500 in Haryana, 500 in Andhra Pradesh, and 350 in Assam observed the strike and took part in protest demonstrations. In Telangana, around 4,000 employees across 31 districts participated in the strike action. Despite heavy snowfall, electricity employees in Jammu & Kashmir also took to the streets. Reports of massive strike participation continue to pour in from other states as well.
The road transport workers, under the banner of the All India Road Transport Workers’ Federation (AIRTWF), participated in solidarity actions across the country at the same time. Similarly, the All India State Government Employees’ Federation (AISGEF) extended its support through solidarity actions on the same day. The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions of India also called upon the entire trade union movement in the country to actively stand in solidarity with the struggling electricity employees.
This nationwide strike firmly reflects the unwavering determination of India’s electricity workers to safeguard public assets. The overwhelming solidarity also highlights the support and unity of other sections of the working class in this struggle. With their strategically significant striking power, the electricity workers are resolute in advancing this movement to any extent, including the possibility of an indefinite strike, if the central government fails to halt its anti-people privatisation efforts targeting public power utilities.
