The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is grappling with a dual crisis as regular employees have launched a work-to-rule protest, joining the ongoing strike by outsourced workers that has already disrupted consumer services. The agitation, which began Wednesday, involves employees working strictly from 9 am to 5 pm, switching off official phones after duty hours, refusing overtime, and performing only duties assigned under existing service rules.
Unions spearheading the protest
The protest is jointly led by the PSEB Employees Joint Forum, Bijli Mulazam Ekta Manch Punjab, Association of Junior Engineers, Grid Substation Employees Union, Powercom and Transco Pensioners Union Punjab, and the Pensioners Welfare Federation. The unions accuse the government and PSPCL management of failing to honor assurances made during earlier negotiations.
Key demands of regular employees
According to the unions, their demands include extending PSPCL pay scales to employees recruited after July 17, 2020, restoring pay band benefits to employees promoted after November 17, 2021, revising pension, filling around 45,000 posts, providing better safety equipment to field staff, and regularizing outsourced employees.
Outsourced workers' strike continues
The work-to-rule protest coincides with a strike by outsourced employees, including meter readers, computer operators, and staff at Nodal Complaint Centres (NCCs), Consumer Relations Centres (CRCs), stores, and ME labs. They are seeking absorption into the corporation on a direct contract basis. Before the strike, these workers handled key services such as assigning complaints from the 1912 helpline, updating complaint status after fault rectification, and processing applications for new and temporary power connections, load changes, name changes, and meter replacements.
Impact on services
To maintain services, PSPCL has deployed regular technical and clerical staff at NCCs and CRCs. However, senior officials admitted that complaint disposal has slowed as many deputed employees are unfamiliar with specialized software and consumer service systems. Commercial services continue, but application processing takes longer due to limited manpower.
Union allegations
Kuljit Singh, state president of the Outsourced Employees Federation Punjab, said the corporation failed to fulfill its promise of absorbing outsourced workers on a direct contract basis despite regularizing CHB workers and thermal power plant staff. He further alleged that in some parts of Punjab, apprentice linemen meant for field training are being assigned office duties at complaint centers, compromising their technical learning.
Next phase of agitation
As part of the next phase, regular employee unions have announced mass casual leave on July 21 and 22 if their demands remain unresolved. This escalation threatens further disruption to PSPCL operations, already strained by the outsourced workers' strike.
