Power Sector Employees will Strike hard on 20th May 2025

Date: 21.03.2025

In its course of Regional Meetings all across the country, the Eastern Region of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) met in Kolkata on March 21, 2025. The meeting was inaugurated by PN Chowdhury, Convener of NCCOEEE, who presented a detailed note on the current state of the electricity sector for discussion.

Chowdhury highlighted the ongoing privatisation attempts in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, as well as the looming threat in Puducherry. The 3rd term of the Modi government has become desperate to destroy the public power sector of India.

Key speakers at the convention included Shailendra Dubey, Chairman of AIPEF; Sudip Dutta, General Secretary of EEFI; Baijnath Singh of AIFEE; Satya Ranjan Sarkar of AIFOPDE; Samar Sinha, General Secretary of AIPF. Leaders from West Bengal, Jharkhad, Bihar, and Odisha also participated. Leaders of Damodar Valley Corporation and Calcutta based private company CESC also participated in the meeting. Several contract workers organisations also attended.

Sudip Dutta, EEFI General Secretary underscored prominently that the attack on different segments of Power Sector - Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Central, State and Private - should be seen as an integrated one; the attack from imposed coal import burden to prepaid smart metering are parts of the same privatisation move; and so the Struggle should also be integrated.

The meeting highlighted the decisions of the National Convention of Workers under the banner of Central Trade Unions held on 18th March 2025 at New Delhi and resolved to organise Nationwide Strike of Power employees on 20th May 2025.

The meeting resolved to establish a regional chapter of NCCOEEE, with Manas Sinha as Convener, alongside representatives from all federations. Sudhin Kr Dhar has been elected as the convener for the West Bengal chapter of NCCOEEE. This move aims to strengthen regional coordination and amplify the collective voice against privatisation and for workers' rights in the electricity sector.

The meeting adopted the following resolutions:

Joint Protest Demonstrations: Organise joint protest demonstrations by burning the notification of the Labour Codes immediately after its announcement. These demonstrations will be held at all power stations, sub-stations, and offices on the day of or the day following the announcement.

State-Level Joint Conventions: Conduct massive state-level joint conventions by April 20, 2025, to mobilise workers and build momentum against the Labour Codes.

Preparation of Joint Leaflets: Create two separate joint leaflets – one focusing on the Labour Codes and the other addressing specific issues related to the electricity sector.

Distribution of Leaflets: Distribute the joint leaflets to all electricity employees and engineers to raise awareness and build solidarity.

Gate Meetings: Organise gate meetings in the last week of April 2025 to campaign against the Labour Codes and educate workers about their implications.

Massive Rallies: Hold massive rallies at state capitals by the first week of May 2025 to demonstrate the collective strength and resolve of electricity employees and engineers.

Community Outreach: Engage electricity employees and engineers in community outreach through street corner meetings, small public meetings, and door-to-door campaigns to garner public support.

Participation in National Strike: Ensure active participation of electricity employees and engineers in the National Strike on 20th May 2025 announced by the Central Trade Unions against the Labour Codes. Separate strike notices will be submitted by electricity sector unions and associations.

Mass Mobilisation: Organise mass mobilisation at district headquarters on the day of the strike to maximise participation and visibility.

Reconvening of NCCOEEE Eastern Region: The NCCOEEE, Eastern region, will reconvene immediately after the National Strike by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions to prepare for the historic Power Sector Strike on June 26, 2025.

NCCOEEE North Eastern Regional Meeting will take place on 22nd March 2025 at Guwahati, Assam.

Issued by

sd/-

Sudip Dutta

General Secretary

Electricity Workers are preparing to tremble the Fort of the Ruling Class Marching towards two National Strikes in two months

Date: 14th March 2025

The Electricity Employees will not allow the Central and State governments to advance an inch in their privatization agenda further! The resistance will be indomitable in coming days – 2 National Strikes in the electricity sector in two months.

The 10th National Conference of Electricity Employees Federation of India (EEFI) has been held on 10-12th March 2025 at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It celebrated the 40 years of EEFI and birth Centenary of Comrade E Balanandan, the founder President of EEFI.

More than 350 delegates from all sections of Power Sector, Generation (Thermal, Hydel, Nuclear and Wind), Transmission and Distribution, from Central Public Sectors like NTPC and PowerGrid, state public DISCOMs from 22 states and 4 UTs along with various private Power utilities attended the Conference. Delegates came from all across the country, from Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala, from Meghalaya to Maharashtra.

The Conference was inaugurated by Comrade Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU. He emphasized over the changing profile of technology and employment relations and its impact on the working class struggle. The electricity workers’ struggle had been a true example of resistance and defiance against anti-workers, anti-people policies of the Modi government for past several years. He highlighted the possibility of Labour Code implementation and the strategic role of electricity workers to resist that. The inaugural session was also greeted by Comrade Mohan Sharma, the General Secretary of All India Federation of Electricity Employees (AIFEE).

A massive rally of the electricity employees took place in the evening of the first day of the Conference. It was wonderfully decorated with traditional cultural exhibition of Kerala; the rally was greeted by numerous workers’ organisations in its path.

Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala had sent a greetings message to the electricity workers of the country expressing his cordial support and best wishes for the success of the Conference. The public meeting was addressed by Comrade Elamaram Kareem, the President and Comrade Swadesh DevRoye, the Working President of EEFI. The speakers emphasized the alternatives shown by the movement and LDF government of Kerala and the resolute task to protect these with full rigor and conviction.

The 3 Days’ Conference was attended by the Trade Union International (Energy) General Secretary, Comrade Mpho Phakedi. He is the General Secretary of the largest Miners’ Union of South Africa with great experience of anti-imperialist struggle. He ignited ideological fire among the delegates by framing the international task in front of the working class – to achieve an exploitation-less world in our lifetime. Four international energy sector delegates from Nepal also participated in the Conference.

A very detailed report was presented in 3 parts – the International and National Political Economic Situation, the International and National Energy Sector and EEFI’s organization and struggle. The report pointed out the challenges in front of the electricity workers while accommodating the rapid technological transformation and the impact of Artificial Intelligence. The task will be to place the affirmative role of labor and its organization in this changing scenario.

The transition of public energy sector towards private renewable has been discussed very critically in the report. The privatization of various forms along with contractualisation and other forms of non-regularisation of the workforce is the main issue confronted by the electricity workers now. The report discussed about the struggles and resistances also, especially to protect the right to electricity for the consumers and to protect the public Power utilities.

The geopolitics of energy and the role of imperialism led by MNCs and TNCs was reported in details. Report discussed about the rise of the far Right forces and the fascistic tendencies within the ruling dispensation to come out of the systemic crisis. It concluded with a clarion call to advance for social transformation of the current exploitative capitalist order towards an egalitarian and just one.

Total 60 delegates participated in the discussion. Debates came over the issue of rapid automation, workers’ replacement from job and our position on that. The issues of the contractual workers came in very prominently in the discussions. Our role in the energy transition process was raised in the Conference. Myriads of experiences of struggle were shared by the delegates.

The leaders of All India Coal Workers’ Federation (AICWF) and Petroleum and Gas Workers Federation of India (PGWFI) participated in the Conference. They asserted that the united action of 3 Energy Federations of India will change the class correlation in a pro-people manner. This great task and responsibility is pending before us.

The Conference has adopted several Crucial Resolutions including on strong opposition against the Privatisation of Power Sector, protecting the Kerala Model of Alternatives, and Strengthening the LDF Government, on Contract Workers' Rights demanding Fair Labour Practices and against the Corporate-Communal Nexus and to combat divisive tactics, on organizing the Working Women, combating the Patriarchal Norms, on organising the workers across the global value chain, building international solidarity in Action and ensuring Public Ownership in Renewable Energy Development.

A special Resolution was passed to ensure the Success of two National Strikes, one opposing Labor Codes, and other on the issues of electricity on 26th June 2025.

The Conference concluded with the adoption of the future tasks to expand the organizational reach; focus over the non-regular form of workers; try to bring independent organisations into EEFI’s fold; organize the power engineers in EEFI. Special initiatives will be taken to organize within the private power utilities, organise Pensioners, bringing them in the joint movement and give special focus on the women and youth issues among the power sector employees.

Decisions have been taken to form big worker-consumers’ organization at every state, strengthen the united action with other electricity federations, strengthen the NCCOEEE and initiate and develop coordinated action with the other two energy sector federations – AICWF and PGWFI.

The task is to develop alternative frameworks to the neo-liberal policy reforms, develop the collective bargaining capacity of the non-regular workers and campaign to demand the place of workers’ in public sector management board. EEFI has decided to establish a permanent Research and Training Centre at Delhi to develop the political-ideological standard of the cadres.

A 25 members Office Bearers Committee including 3 women and an additional Permanent Invitee has been elected. The Conference has elected a total 55 members Working Committee including Office Bearers and an additional 70 General Council Members.

Comrade Elamaram Kareem has been re-elected as the President and Comrade Swadesh DevRoye has been re-elected as the Working President of the Federation. Comrade Sudip Dutta has been elected as the new General Secretary and Comrade S Rajendran as the Treasurer.

The struggle of the electricity employees will be sharpened, heightened and victorious in coming days. The electricity workers are the most strategic force to stall and transform the oppressive State. 10th National Conference of EEFI will prepare its members for a militant time ahead – to protect the right to electricity and to popularize and advance the transformative agenda.

Issued by

Sd/-

Sudip Dutta

General Secretary

EEFI

Information Sharing

Jammu and Kashmir Non Gazetted electrical Employees association held peace full protest for their demands at Qazigund Anantnag. Revolutionary greetings to Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Employees.

Modi govt has ruined the lives of Indian people: Elamaram Karim MP
In a resounding declaration of solidarity with the nation's workers and farmers, Com. Elamaram Karim MP led a poignant march and protest against the Modi government's detrimental policies. The event, orchestrated by Samyuktakisan Morcha, reverberated with calls for a Grameen Bandh across India on the 16th, highlighting the widespread discontent against anti-labor measures. Under the collaborative efforts of Trade Unions and Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram and various central government offices in other districts of Kerala became the stage for a fervent display of dissent. President of EEFI, Com. Elamaram Karim MP, spearheaded the march, joined by impassioned leaders from trade unions and farmers' associations. Inaugurating the Raj Bhavan march, Com. Elamaram Karim MP delivered a scathing indictment of the Modi administration, asserting that it has brought untold misery upon the Indian populace. Com. Karim emphasized the government's reluctance to challenge corporate giants like Ambani, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the brunt of its policies. He warned of an impending wave of robust protests to counteract these detrimental measures, accusing Modi of stoking communal tensions in a bid to consolidate power. He said that if these policies are to be defeated, there will be a very strong agitation and Modi's attempt is to regain power by inflaming communalism. The dire plight of farmers loomed large in Com. Karim's address, with a staggering number resorting to suicide amidst governmental apathy towards setting fair product prices. Dishearteningly, the plight of those who lost their lives protesting went unacknowledged, with the government failing to compensate their grieving families. Moreover, the Indian Railways grapples with a severe staff shortage, even as contractors continue to be favored over permanent hires, exacerbating the country's economic woes. Com. Karim attributed the rampant inflation gripping the nation to the government's flawed policies, leaving no recourse but sustained agitation to effect change. He lambasted the Modi administration for its myopic focus on divisive politics, accusing it of feigning accomplishment while the populace continues to suffer. In conclusion, Elamaram Karim's impassioned denunciation sheds light on the harsh realities facing Indian society under the Modi government's rule. As calls for reform grow louder, it becomes increasingly apparent that genuine change can only be realized through unified and persistent action against oppressive policies.

The Tamil Nadu government has suddenly issued a circular ordering the trifurcation of the existing state generation-distribution utility TANGEDCO into 3 companies, one separate for distribution, one for thermal generation and third for non-thermal generation. The TNEB was bifurcated in 2010 and the tripartite settlement after the bifurcation is still pending. The EEFI constituents of Tamil Nadu have vehemently opposed this unilateral move of the government and already resorted to state-wide struggle. All EEFI constituents are requested to keep a close eye on the development of the movement and prepare for solidarity struggle. Today, on 12th February 2024, we are submitting a memorandum to Hon'ble CM of Tamil Nadu, which will be forwarded to all constituents by tomorrow.

The WFTU Working Women committee conducted a meeting on Monday 20th March 2023 via zoom to check upon the preparation of action plan 2023, regional meetings and the discussion was open to proposals and views.The meeting was conducted by Cinziadella Porta from Italy. Many countries like Thuy Tran from Vietnam reported about the socio- economic issues of the women in their country. And also other countries reported about the issues and purpose of the working women movement.

From India's Electricity Employees Federation of India, it was reported about the history of Women movement in our country, which can be divided into three phases, first phase for establishing rights and class struggle for education and against social customs. Second phase is active involvement and participation in India's freedom struggle. And the third phase that is post independence fighting against social, political and economic exploitation. Then how Covid’19 pandemic also has been utilized by the imperialist forces to maximize profits and put the burden of the crisis to the working people especially working women. The authoritarian and crony character of the local government led more oppression for working women. The government instead of addressing the problems , is taking away the rights like maternity benefits , equal pay for equal work , proper working conditions by changing the labour laws.

It was also reported that role of CITU in continuous fighting against this oppression and taking lot of initiative to organize women workers under CITU banner, to popularize the programs of CITU among all the section of working women and to take up social problems in trade union platforms.

The meeting concluded with resolution of regional meeting for Europe will be hosted in Italy as reported by Cherene Horazuk from USA and there is a proposal for realisation of World Working Women Congress in Senegal in November 2023.

★ Electricity Employees Federation of India (EEFI) ★

★ Incredible Victory to the UP Striking Electricity Employees & Engineers: Govt. Bowed Down ★

★ Press Release ★

Electricity Employees Federation of India (EEFI) congratulates the united struggle of the Electricity Employees and Engineers of Uttar Pradesh for the incredible victory. Resisting and Defying the Government’s onslaught including the vindictive invocation of draconian ESMA, threat of NSA and massive termination, the determined Strikers have emerged victorious. Under immense pressure from all corners, the UP Energy Minister Sri Arvind Kumar Sharma in a joint press conference has publicly promised to roll-back the vindictive terminations. The arrogant UP Govt. practically surrendered to the Striking workers.
The strike action was called by the united forum of all organisations representing electricity employees and engineers of UP – Vidyut Karmachari Samyukt Sangharsh Samiti. The Power employees & engineers of Uttar Pradesh were in the path of struggle from November, 2022 and on 3rd December 2022 a written agreement was signed between Vidyut Karmachari Samyukt Sangharsh Samiti and UP Power Corporation in presence of Shri Arvind Kumar Sharma with an assurance of not to privatise the power assets. In a complete retrograde move, the Management of the power corporations started denying the mutually agreed and signed agreement and directed to sell out two new 800 MW generation units of Anpara and Opra and related transmission assets currently owned by UPPCL, the state-run UP Power Corporation. It is a malicious violation of established industrial practice. As an expression of discontent and anger, exercising the democratic right, the Sangharsh Samiti of Power employees and engineers of UP has resorted to 3 days token strike action from 16th March 10 pm. Around 1 lakh employees were in Strike. The entire UP electricity sector was under heavy grip of strike. Generation had drastically fallen at several power stations like Opra, Anpara, Parichha. The electricity employees’ united forum has also highlighted the demands of regularising the contractual workers engaged in perennial jobs of electricity sector, reintroduction the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and rolling back of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022. After 65 hours valiant strike, the Government stepped back. The Energy Minister today has announced that the 3rd December 2022 agreement will be revisited and the Government will try to implement it in ditto.
At the call of NCCOEEE, in thousands of places electricity workers all across the country came into the street on 16th March 2023 in solidarity and support to the Striking UP workers. EEFI salutes their spirit and participation. This magnificent victory of the Striking UP electricity workers is in a row of victories, starting from Maharashtra, then Karnataka and today UP. This proves again that the determined valiant struggle of the electricity like strategic sector workers can only put a bridle to these anti-people actions of the current authoritarian Modi-Yogi led BJP regime. This is time tested truth with experience of Harynana, Chandigarh, Puducherry & Srinagar anti-privatisation struggle of electricity workers. In all cases, the Govt. was compelled to step back.
Today, EEFI calls upon the people of the Nation, the electricity workers in particular and specifically the EEFI constituents to uphold and internalize the glorious experience of UP movement and observe nationwide victory demonstrations on 20th March 2023 throughout the country. This victory rally will be a part of the NCOEEE call to greet the victorious UP electricity employees, nationwide.

Issued by
(Prasanta N Chowdhury)
General Secretary, EEFI

20%hike wef 1.4.22. CM announced..karnataka...Thanks for all state constituents who supported our struggle. Long live Revolution

In different Districts of UP

Lucknow today

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