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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Power crisis deepens as PSPCL staff extend strike
Power supply woes in Ludhiana have deepened after PSPCL employees announced an extension of their mass leave protest till August 15. With 57% of the total workforce which stood at 1,356 employees off duty, the department is in crisis mode, battling outages, severe voltage fluctuations, and delayed repairs, officials said. PSPCL's Aggar Nagar office stayed vacant amid the employees' mass leave protest in Ludhiana on Wednesday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT) Despite makeshift arrangements, prolonged blackouts continue in several localities. Residents of Harkrishan Nagar, Preet Nagar, Shimlapuri, Lohara, and Sukhdev Nagar reported being without electricity for more than three hours on Wednesday. Sub-stations, offices wear deserted look On the third day of the strike, many substations and divisional offices remained abandoned. Amid all, substations are the most vulnerable zones as they are devoid of technical staff. Hence, in case of any fault or glitches, it is difficult to restore the power supply. Even when the department has redeployed non-technical and clerical staff to substations, but their lack of technical knowledge has left them unable to handle faults involving circuits, fuses, or transmission lines, officials added. Meanwhile, the absence of clerical staff has paralysed basic office work. Bill payments, meter corrections, and new meter installations have come to a standstill, leaving residents frustrated. In the middle of the paddy season, when rural areas desperately need a steady electricity supply for irrigation, villagers in Rasulpur, Jagraon stormed the 66 KV substation on Wednesday. They raised slogans against the state government and PSPCL management over repeated power cuts and demanded an immediate end to the strike. Outsourced workers back agitation In a video released on Wednesday, Balihar Singh, state president of the Powercom and Transcom Workers Union representing outsourced CHB and CHW workers has extended support to the protest. He announced that the union would join sit-ins and demonstrations on August 15, warning that if demands remain unmet, they will launch an indefinite strike from that day. Unions threaten 'black flag' protest on I-Day In a press statement, protesting workers announced the two-day extension of their 'mass leave' strike, taking it through Independence Day. Led by the PSEB Employees Joint Forum and allied unions, the agitation entered its third day with demonstrations across Ludhiana. Union leaders accused the Punjab Government and Power Minister of failing to issue a promised circular for 25 demands accepted on June 2. They warned that on August 15, employees would greet officials at flag-hoisting ceremonies with black flags from nearby power offices. Meanwhile, PSPCL chief engineer Jagdev Hans admitted the extended strike would disrupt both office and field operations. 'We will face disruptions, but we will ensure that the power supply across Ludhiana keeps running with whatever staff we have,' he said.
Hindustan Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: PSPCL contractual staff demand regularisation
Jun 25, 2025 05:20 AM IST In an escalation of their long-standing struggle, PSPCL outsourced workers employed as complaint-handling bikes and wagons have announced a protest across Ludhiana on June 26, demanding job security and the rollback of privatisation policies. The workers' key demands include regularisation of outsourced employees engaged through private agencies. (HT Photo) The protest announced under the banner of Powercom and Transco Contractual Workers Union, is part of a coordinated state-wide agitation led by the Technical Services Union and the Coordination Committee of Powercom and Transco Outsourced Employees. Workers allege that the state government's move to privatise 10 divisions, including Kharar and Lalru, will result in loss of service benefits, and deteriorating working conditions. Additionally, their key demands include the regularisation of outsourced employees, many of whom have been working in the department for years through private agencies. The union has also demanded the termination of outsourcing contracts, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for those recruited after January 1, 2004, and withdrawal of recent labour law amendments. Balihar Singh, state president of the Powercom and Transco Contractual Workers Union stated, 'If our demands continue to be ignored, we will intensify our agitation with a massive mobilisation outside the PSPCL headquarters in Patiala on July 3.''
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: PSPCL employees push for job regularisation, better pay
Outsourced and regular employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), held a demonstration on the premises of the four sub-division level offices in Ludhiana on Thursday demanding their long-pending demands of regularisation of outsourced employees and better wages. The protest held under the banner of the PSPCL and Transco Contract Workers' Union comes ahead of a nationwide strike called by central trade unions on May 20, which the union has decided to join. Balihar Singh, state president, Powercom and Transco Contractual Workers' Union, said that many of these employees have worked in the department for over a decade without any job security, benefits, or career progression. 'These workers often perform the same duties as permanent staff but remain on contract, vulnerable to sudden termination,' he added. Another major demand is the implementation of minimum wages as mandated by law. Protesting staff alleged that many outsourced workers are still paid below the legal wage threshold, with no timely revisions or benefits like medical leave, dearness allowance, or provident fund contributions. The protestors also called for post structuring based on workload, highlighting that several departments remain understaffed, forcing existing employees to take on extra responsibilities without additional compensation or formal reclassification of roles. Additionally, the union is seeking the repeal of recent labour laws framed by the union given that they claim dilute workers' rights, limit collective bargaining, and give employers more freedom to terminate contracts. Protestors argued that these laws have further weakened protections for contract and daily-wage workers. Another key issue raised was the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Workers said the current National Pension System (NPS) lacks social security and leaves retired employees financially insecure. Addressing the rally, union leaders Balihar Singh, Jang Singh, and Sukhjeet Singh said these demands have been ignored for years. They announced a continuous sit-in outside the PSPCL head office on May 21 and urged all employees to unite for a sustained, statewide movement.
