Chandigarh electricity employees hold dharna against corporatization

CHANDIGARH: The electricity employees of Chandigarh under the banner of UT powermen union Chandigarh held massive dharna in Sector 34, Chandigarh. The dharna was organized to lodge its protest against the proposal of Chandigarh administration to corporatize the well running electricity department as well as against the outsourcing and scrapping of contract system.
Implementation of other long pending demands of the electricity employees including removal of Pay Anomalies that arises between the pay of senior and junior employees, Amendments in Rules of various categories, offer of appointment to the next kin of deceased employees by scrapping 5% ceiling on the pattern of power com employees and allotment of flats to unsuccessful employees under UT employees self financing housing scheme 2008 beside demanding repatriation of SDO Zile Singh to his parent state for his anti employees activities policies, were yet another issues raised.
Union president Ram Sarup while said that the administration instead of doing work through department employees, by providing men and material, is promoting the outsourcing and contract system and a proposal is being made to privatize the department. He demanded to fill up the 500 vacant posts lying vacant in the department since long beside providing material so that the work load on the employees be reduced and complaints and repair works be done in time. he warned that if the proposal of corporatization will not be stopped Union will intensified its agitation and one day strike will be observed in last weak of October, 2012.
Union general secretary Gopal Datt Joshi demanded Chandigarh administration to to procure material in the department so as to serve the residents of city beautiful as early as possible.
Later a Jatha March was taken out in Sector-17 Market and leaf lets were distributed amongst the residence regarding failure of Managements to provide uninterrupted power supply to the residence and also sought their support against the corporatization of the department.