ELECTRICITY EMPLOYEES FEDERATION OF INDIA
B.T. RANADIVE BHAWAN, 13-A, ROUSE AVENUE, NEW DELHI -2
TELEFAX: 23219670 E-mail: eefederation@gmail.com, info@eefi.org
 website www.eefi.org

Circular No.:13/2009          Date: 30.09.2009

CIRCULAR 

The first meeting of the EEFI Working Committee after 6th Conference took place at Chandigarh between 19th & 20th September, 2009 with participation of 47 members including some invitees of associated organisations. Meeting was chaired by President Com. K.O. Habib. The meeting paid homage to martyrs and due ovation to passed away personalities. Com. Harbhajan Singh welcomed the participants on behalf of comrades of Punjab. Leave of absence was granted to working president, Com. S. Deb Roye, Treasurer, Com. S.S. Subrammaniam and others who intimated their reasons for absence.

Com K O Habib, President, EEFI opened the meeting. He expressed serious concern over the grim Power situation as well condition of the working class of this core sector Industry. Adverses of Indo-US nuke deal still could not be felt by the general people. Power sector workers and employees are to make them aware. As a practice of the day workers are to undertake jobs with very unsafe working condition due to minimum investment on maintenance of Power network. Thousands of workers are to face the plight of loss of lives and limbs. Aggressive contractualisation and outsourcing in power sector is causing the hardship of the workers. He mentioned the All TU convention held on 14th September last and called upon the power workers to extend their support towards 5 points demand placed by the joint convention. He also called upon electricity workers as well working class of the country to be vocal against the outcome of the ASEAN summit most detrimental to the interest of India.

Com P N Chowdhury, General Secretary placed the Report before the meeting. In his report, the unusual profit mongering with trading of power, Gap between Power and energy supply and demand, failure of the Govt. of India to achieve target of capacity addition in each Plan period was severely criticized. As decided in the 6th conference, EEFI will formulate a National Charter of Demands and place it before Union Govt. for settlement. Salient points of charter of demand are to be taken up for discussion. Priority will be given in respect formulation of National Wage Policy for the Power sector workers with specific emphasize on Contract and casual workers. Thrust will be given to capacity addition with indigenous resources, specially harnessing Hydel and Renewable sources. Coal crisis is making power situation further aggravated. The energy resource war has entered into our domestic arena through dispute between the Ambani Brothers on the right of KG Basin Gas business. Government is playing the role of silent spectator. Electricity Employees Federation of India is to raise the voice of protest. Statement of accounts was placed by the General Secretary in absence of treasurer.

17 working committee members took part in the discussion with valuable suggestions upon the development of the state wise organisations and movements including problems of the electricity industry. Unusual workload, high price of electricity, contractualisation, outsourcing, franchise and similar so many game plans are adding to plight of the people and power workers.

A resolution was adopted by the working committee to greet the valiant struggle of PSEB Workers and Employees jointly with peasants and mass people to compel the Govt. of Punjab hold on their game plan of unbundling PSEB with effect from 15th September 2009. The struggle became victorious with other demands of PSEB employees.

Following decisions were arrived at upon the deliberation of the meeting of the working committee.

1. Electricity Employees will take part in the All India Protest Day to be observed by all Central Trade Unions on 28th October, 2009 on the demands of -
• Redressal measures against raising price of the essential commodities and the food grains
• Employment protection in recession stricken sectors, stimulus package with investment in infrastructure sector
• Strict enforcement of Labour Laws with stringent punishment for violation of Labour Laws
• Adequate social security measures for the unorganised workers with suitable fund, removal of all restrictions on poverty line determination
• Complete hold on disinvestment of shares of CPSEs and revival of sick PSUs

2. Electricity workers will take part in the protest day programme wearing a badge on 28th October 2009. The badge will contain above 5 demands along with the demands of the Electricity Employees as under –
• E-Act, 2003 should be further reviewed towards amendment of the clauses not commensurating with federal structure of Indian union as well right to electricity of poor people of India.
• Subject to minimum wage prescribed by 6th Pay Commission for Central Govt. Employees, national minimum wage policy for electricity workers should be declared.
• Minimum standard for maintenance of electricity network to be specified to ensure safety of man and machine as well reliable supply with zero interruption for public utility services.
• Speculatory game with trading of power to be stopped forthwith to arrest exorbitant cost of supply and bankruptcy of state owned utilities.
• Right to mineral sources is to be retained by Union Government. All profit hunting game plan with Krishna-Godavori Basin gas dispute to be stopped.
The Demand Badges may be printed in the local language keeping the spirit of the above 10 point demands.  Name of the Union / Association and EEFI should be noted at bottom.
3. The meeting observed the needful information in respect of present pay structure, allowances and perquisites, service conditions, safety, occupational health and work norm, man power deployment and recruitment policy, pension and other terminal benefits are not available with the EEFI national centre. All constituent organisations are requested to make those available with periodic updating. All those facts and figures are necessary for formulation of national level charter of demands for the electricity employees. However, it was decided that general secretary will prepare a draft charter of demands for circulation among the office bearers. On receipt of suggestions from the office bearers and constituent organisations the charter of demands will be finalized in the next meeting of Office Bearers.
4. Next issue of the Voice will be published by the earliest possible time. Available reports from the states will be published. Reports / contribution must be sent either in English or in Hindi. Any contribution for the next issue of the Voice should be sent through fax/email by 20th October 2009. Some of the constituent organisations have not yet sent the subscription as well names and address of subscribers for dispatching copies individually. 2500 copies will be printed. Bulk package will be dispatched to the organisations those, who have not yet sent the names and address of the subscribers. All Voice dues are to be cleared without any further delay.
5. All organisations are to concentrate upon organizing the contract / casual / part time / franchise workers either under the existing union or with formation of separate union for those workers. The working condition of these categories of workers is precarious. Hence campaign for their justified and legitimate demands regarding wages, safety and compensation as well social security measures should be developed. As per Contract Labour (R&A) Act, 1970 contract workers are to be paid equally with direct workers for similar nature of work. We are to intensify this demand. Various forms of movements are to be explored with the help of existing organisation. Attention should also be given for organizing the workers of IPPs. Any assistance required for this important job may kindly be communicated to EEFI centre.
6. KSEBWA/KSEBOA was requested by the General Secretary to explore the possibility of conducting training camp at Thiruvanantapuram by early 2010. Topics will be a) Our task on the backdrop of neo-liberal era and economic meltdown, b) Current political situation in the country: Challenges ahead, c) Organisational consolidation and d) Problems of electricity industry, its employees and consumers. Suggestions from the working committee members for inclusion of the topics of labour laws, was taken into consideration. It was decided that the constituent organisations will conduct training class in these topics. EEFI leaders in charge of the state will extend cooperation for the same.
7. In respect of claims of compensation, departure from Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 was noted and all constituent organisations will put their best endeavour to ensure that no settlement below the prescribed level of WC Act is arrived at in any means.
8. Affiliation dues and Federation Building Fund contributions are to be sent by the earliest possible time but not later than 31st October next.
9. Meeting accepted the report of the general secretary with above addition / alteration. Accounts statement was approved.

 (Prasanta N Chowdhury)
 General Secretary