Electricity Employees Federation of India was formed to organise workers/ employees engaged in generation transmission, maintenance, project construction and distribution of electricity all over India, and to foster spirit of co-operation, fraternity and reciprocity among all workers employed in the electricity industry.

Being India's largest power sector employees organisation it strongly opposes the anti people and anti working class policies followed by the government. EEFI is a very important power sector organisation having a remarkable experience of struggle. Now keeping in view of fast changing circumstances and harsh onslaught of economic policies EEFI has achieved more importance. Electricity being very important core sector and mother of all industries, the Electricity Employees Federation has got champion role to play.

ELECTRICITY EMPLOYEES’ FEDERATION OF INDIA

B.T. RANADIVE BHAWAN, 13A, ROUSE AVENUE, NEW DELHI-110 002

Telefax : +91 11 23219670   W: eefi.org  E-mail : eefederation@gmail.com

  President :   K O Habib                                    General Secretary : Prasanta N Chowdhury

No.70/2013                                                                                                                    Date : 24 April 2013

                                                                        Notice

To

All members of the Working Committee

            A meeting of the working committee of the Federation will take place at BTR Bhawan New Delhi on 17^th May, 2013 at 10.30 AM sharp to discuss the agenda noted below. All members of the working committee are requested to attend the meeting positively to take part in the important deliberations to arrive at appropriate decision.

1.      Confirmation of the resolution/decision adopted in the last meeting of the working committee took place on 15^th March, 2013.

2.      Finalize the time, venue and agenda of the 7^th National Conference of the Federation. All the unions/organisations affiliated to EEFI are to bring their activity reports since 6^th conference for inclusion in the draft report.

3.      Status of development of document on crucial industrial panorama embracing detrimental national policy and condition of the electricity employees all over the country.

4.      United movement on detrimental electricity policy of the government and exploitation of contractors’ workers of electricity industry.

5.      Publication of Voice and subscription.

6.      Affiliation dues.

7.      Accounts.

8.      Any other points with the permission of the chair.

Sd/-

 (Prasanta N Chowdhury)

      General Secretary

ELECTRICITY EMPLOYEES’ FEDERATION OF INDIA

B.T. RANADIVE BHAWAN, 13A, ROUSE AVENUE, NEW DELHI-110 002

Telefax : +91 11 23219670   W: eefi.org  E-mail : eefederation@gmail.com

        President :   K O Habib                                 General Secretary   : Prasanta N Chowdhury

                                                                                                                  Date : 10 April, 2013

                                                Corrigendum to Circular No.13/69 (Para 1)

Magnitude of any strike can be measured from the overall power consumption pattern. We may overview power consumption scenario on these two days of countrywide general strike. Peak demand of power in the end of February reaches over 133,000 MW. We are to bear with peak shortage from 6 to 16% and energy shortage from 3 to 15% at different regions. Unique phenomenon was in these two days our country could evade both Peak shortage and energy shortage at the courtesy of the striking Trade Unions, though Energy generation fell well below the target. Usually comparison / reference are drawn, in respect of Power/Energy demand with the similar days of the week in same season. We may compare the target & actual generation data published by CEA for Four Days of February, 20^th & 21^st February with 13th & 14^th (Wednesday and Thursday) respectively in the table below:

Impact of strike is notable. Generation fell short of target as well previous week’s same days achievement to the tune of 15.68 crore and 14.60 crore units but usual shortage was not there as dent of strike could have reduced power demand in those two days in different sectors of Economic activities all over the country.

Around 50% electricity workers took part in the strike all over the country, while it varied from state to state and sectors like generation, transmission and distribution, while 100% contractor workers of Kerala took part in the strike in both the days, 91.2% of regular workers and 77.42%  Officers  of KSEB took part in the strike. In Kalapakkam Atomic Power Station 100% workers participated, while 50% of Tamilnadu Electricity (TNEB) workers took part in the strike. Participation was poor in Nayevely. ESMA was promulgated in states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.  Some of the Unions in these states confined their protest within Dharna and demonstration in lieu of strike. In some states emergent services of electricity generation and supply was excluded from the ambit of the strike while workers of administrative and commercial activities took part in the strike. In Haryana joint action committee of power workers called three days strike commencing from 19^th February. After negotiation with the government in respect of withdrawal of retrenchment of five workers first day’s strike was called off. More than 80% workers took part in the strike. In Punjab also participation of strike was more than 50%. In Chandigarh more than 70% workers took part in the strike and organised protest march all over the city. In Jammu strike was magnificent while response was poor in turmoil stricken Kashmir Valley. Strike was notable among the power workers in Eastern and North-Eastern states also. Impact was better in West Bengal, Orissa, Assam and Tripura. In central sector Power Grid workers took part in the strike but participation was very poor in regular workers of NHPC and NTPC barring Farakka, while contractor workers took part in the strike.

           sd/-

 (Prasanta N Chowdhury 

 General Secretary

Voice of Electricity Workers is a leading magazine in Indian power sector. It discusses power sector issues in peoples' perspective. This issue of Voice of Electricty workers contains 30 artcles from power sector. Main articles are listed below.

ELECTRICITY EMPLOYEES’ FEDERATION OF INDIA

B.T. RANADIVE BHAWAN, 13A, ROUSE AVENUE, NEW DELHI-110 002

Telefax : +91 11 23219670   W: eefi.org  E-mail : eefederation@gmail.com

        President :   K O Habib                                 General Secretary   : Prasanta N Chowdhury

Circular No.13/69                                                               Date : 29 March, 2013

EEFI Working Committee met at Delhi on 15^th March, 2013. Detailed discussion was held and decision arrived upon is noted below:

1. Participation of Electricity Workers and Employees in nationwide united strike called by All Central Trade Unions on 20-21 February, 2013 was reviewed. Some of the State Government namely Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh promulgated ESMA. In those states EEFI still is not having any affiliated organization, strike was very feeble excepting Korba. In West Bengal TMC Government opened war against striking workers, even Electricity demand fell to the tune of 25% due to the impact of strike. Magnificent response was in Kerala where more than 91% employees participated in strike. Electricity demand of the country fell to the tune of 20% erasing the power scenario of daily 15% power cut. EEFI congratulated the working class of India as well Electricity Employees all over the country for their valiant role to make the strike successful.
2. National scenario in respect of electricity as well whole ambit of energy is becoming very dismal due to anti people policy of Government of India. So many scams in respect of transferring energy resources to private profit mongers towards endangering energy security are being unveiled. All those lead to denial of right to energy of people of India. With the enactment and promulgation of  Electricity Act, 2003, SEBs unbundled,  State Governments were distanced from the Electricity arena for improvement of efficiency and inviting private capital. Now the Government had to declare Rs.1.9 lakh crores bailout package for the loss making DISCOMS. Obnoxious conditions like tariff hike, privatization, State Government guarantee has been thrashed upon the State Governments to avail fund from the bailout package. Those (State Governments) who have been removed from regularity role are to bear the burden.  These eventualities indicate clear failure of neo-liberal economic policy of the Government in respect of Electricity. Time is up for us to launch National Level Movement against these bankrupt policies. We are to open dialogue with the other federations in the power industry, who are coming closer to us in the ambience of nationwide united movement of the working class.
3. In order to launch country wide movement against the policy of the Government, suitable document is required to be made available. EEFI decided in October last to develop a document on national scenario of power industry. Responsibilities were allocated among the EEFI Office Bearers and Working Committee Members of major states. But still the same has not been developed. Working Committee assigned responsibilities as under:

(A)  BS Meel  Industrial scenario upto 1990

(B)   Tamilnadu - Industrial scenario from 1991 to 2003

(C)   Kerala – Present industrial situation, transfer of Resources, unbundled SEBs with specific focus on Discoms, Transcoes, Gencoes and their financial Health

(D)  West Bengal – Information on tariff and Workers and Employees with service conditions of persons engaged through the contractors including OSH

(E)   National centre – Policy aspects, future plans and compilation

All documents in soft form are to be sent to EEFI centre by 5^th May, 2013 for presentation in the next working committee meeting to take place by middle of May. This document will have three parts like: At a glance, Summary and Full document. This document may be presented in a national convention / workshop.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                          Contd.P-2

Draft Charter of Demands of Electricity Employees Federation of India for discussion in the General Body of the EEFI constituents

1)    Electricity Act, 2003 should be further reviewed towards amendment of the Clauses not commensurating with federal structure of union of India as well Right to Electricity for poor people of India. Performance of electricity utilities is to be reviewed in the light of tariff structure, consumer benefit, loss reduction and poor peoples access to electricity. 
2)    National Wage policy for the Electricity Employees should be declared subject to minimum wage prescribed by 6th Pay Commission for Central Government Employees.
a)    Standing wage guideline should be prescribed at national level in consultation with National Federations of Electricity Employees.
b)    Contract / Casual Workers should be paid wages equivalent to similar category of regular employees.
3)    Minimum standard for maintenance of electricity generation, transmission and distribution installations to be ensured for safety of man and machine as well reliable supply with Zero interruption for public utility services.
4)    Speculatory games with trading of power to be stopped forthwith to arrest exorbitant cost of supply and bankruptcy of public sector utilities. Right to mineral as well natural resources is to be retained by union government. All profit hunting game with KG basin gas dispute to be stopped forthwith. Indigenous fuel for power generation including natural gas should be priced at cost+ basis and not on import parity basis. As coal is the major resource for electricity generation, suitable mechanism should be developed to control cost, quality, reliability and efficiency for supply of coal. Selection of technology for power generation should be prioritise on the basis of indigenous resources and adoptability in the Indian situation with affordability of cost of power.
5)    Standard for workplace operational & preventive safety and occupational health related work norm for the electricity industry is to be codified in the Electricity Act in consultation with the National Federations of Electricity Employees. Compliance of such codes are to be strictly adhered to.
6)    Skill development in Electricity Industry should be taken care of by National / Regional Power training institutes / CEA with compulsory training procedure for the employees of electricity utilities to cope with the rapidly changing technology.
7)    Contract Labour (Regulation &Abolition) Act, 1970 should be strictly imposed in electricity industry with compliance of social security measures including provident fund, pension and gratuity for all contract/casual employees. Contract/Casual Workers should be given priority consideration in recruitment process of electricity utilities.
8)    National policy and scheme for generation and use of clean energy to be formulated keeping balanced use of natural resources all over the country.