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, 13-A, ROUSE AVENUE, NEW DELHI – 2

TELEFAX: 23219670 E-mail: eefederation@gmail.com URL: www.eefi.org

CircularNo.32/10              Date: 03-12-2010

To

All Affiliated / Associated organisations

An  extended Meeting of the office bearers of EEFI took place on 28-29 November, 2010 at BTR Bhawan, New Delhi discussed the following items and resolved to implement following programs / activities:

1.            Minutes of the Office Bearers Meeting took place on 18^th July, 2010 at Delhi was confirmed.

2.            The All India Strike of 7^th September, 2010 was reviewed and it was observed that EEFI constituents supported the strike in general. Only a few states like Tamilnadu, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and West Bengal by and large took part in the strike.

3.            Government of India did not pay any heed to issues of the strike. Central Trade Unions have jointly decided March to Parliament on 23^rd February, 2011 to put press for the five points demands  EEFI will support and take part in the Parliament March with a strength of 12,000 electricity workers. Statewise break-up of participation will be as under –

Punjab 5000, Haryana 5000, UP 500, Tamilnadu-600, Rajasthan- 150, WBSEWMU –50, PBSKMU-30  NTPC-25, Powergrid-5 CESWMU-10, DVC-10, DPL-5, Bihar-5, Jharkhand-5 Orissa-5, Chandigarh-50, J&K-5 Assam –8, Pondichery-2, Kerala 60 (50+10), Tripura-5

EEFI National Centre will arrange accommodation for 1,000 participants from far away states in Dharmashalas.

4.            A meeting of Working Committee will take place at BTR Bhawan on 23^rd February, 2011 at 2:30 pm. (after the rally). Formal notice will be sent shortly.

5.            Hindi TU Classes will be organised in Haryana (Faridabad) on 24^th and 25^th February, 2011. Classes will be concluded before lunch on 25^th February, 2011. Participants may book their return journey accordingly.

There will be three sessions as under –

Allocated number of participants of Hindi conversant states / organisations will be as under :

Punjab 10, Haryana 10, Rajasthan- 6 UP-2 , West Bengal –12, Sahayak-8 , NTPC-4, Powergrid-2 CESWMU-4, DVC-2, DPL-2, Bihar-2, Jharkhand-2 Orissa-2, Chandigarh-5, J&K-2 Assam –4, Tripura-2, HP-2

Leaders of Participating Unions are requested to contact EEFI Centre / Com Subhas Lamba (09811329365) / Com Devender Hooda (09416800096) to inform total Nos of Participants indicating Nos. of Males and Females and arrival / departure schedule. Venue will be informed shortly.

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, 13-A, ROUSE AVENUE, NEW DELHI -2

             TELEFAX: 23219670 eefederation@gmail.com   URL:www.eefi.org

                                                                                                            DATE: 29.11.2010

            Resolution on agitation of contract/casual worker of J&K State

Thousands of casual/contract workers of J&K state are struggling for the Regularization of the services for almost last two years.  There workers are working more than last fifteen years on different assignment running the distribution and transmission system of the J&K state and are performing the job as a permanent nature.  Last year state government after a big struggle assured them to regularize their services, but had not done anything concretely.  Now these workers are again started agitation in the capital city of Jammu and are holding peaceful rallies, processions and dharnas outside the main offices of the PDD authorities particularly at Development Commissioner’s office Janipura, Jammu and respective chief engineer’s offices.  These workers are getting meagre wages of Rs.110/- per day and are not availing any other benefits when they are involved in highly risk prone jobs, which have also resulted in the death of more than 200 workers when performing their jobs. 

On 25^th November,2010 these workers while doing a peaceful demonstration at DCP’s office at Janipur, Jammu were brutally lathi charged and again at Canal powerhouse on the same day in which dozens of workers where severely injured and number of their leaders were arrested.

Their struggle is going on for the regularization of the services and other benefits and unfortunately the state govt. authorities are behaving inhumanly and are delaying by one protest or other to redress their demands which has caused the serious resentment among the electricity employees in general.

The Electricity Employees Federation of India’s Extended Office Bearers Meeting strongly condemns the brutal repression on the peaceful struggle of J&K Electricity Contract/ Casual workers and demands the state government and electricity authorities to stop the repressive measures and concede the demands of these workers without further delay.

                                                                                    (PRASANTA N CHOWDHURY)

                                                                                    GENERAL SECRETARY

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.