GEB workers may go on indefinite strike from Mar 1

Employees of seven entities created by the restructuring of Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) may go on an indefinite strike from March 1, if the management does not agree with their demands.

It is believed that Gujarat may have to face a blackout in case a concrete conclusion does not come in a given time. The Joint Action Committee (JAC), formed by all seven board employees associations, has 16 demands from the state government related to their job interests in the respective companies.

Meanwhile, the joint action committee has alleged that the state government has transferred the assets of the board at book value instead of market prices.

"The government has transferred assets worth Rs 80,000 crore at market price at its book value that is a mere Rs 12,000 crore. The state government has made such move to benefit the private players in longer run. The private players will be in a position to buy new companies at cheaper rates. The building of seven entities' headquarter may be valued at Rs 50 crore that has been transferred at its book value of Rs 14 crore," said B T Dalwadi, joint secretary of GEB Engineers Associations (GEA) and member of JAC. The member finance of GEB, P K Taneja, was not available for comments.

To oppose the state government's move of restructuring the board, the JAC has announced a number of agitation activities before during February before calling ultimate indefinite strike.

According to the JAC plan, the employees working at the former board's head quarter will go on leave collectively on February 7, to build pressure on the state government.

The employees of all seven companies across the state will also go on mass leave on February 14. The representatives of employees will go on a symbolic hunger strike on February 21.

The demands of JAC include assurance of not shifting headquarters of seven companies from Vadodara and not transferring employees against their willingness. JAC is also against the prospective privatisation of new entities.

JAC has claimed that the state government's move of privatisation will not affect its workforce only but also to the agriculture sector and middle class as private players will not prefer to distribute electricity at existing tariff.