Kalyan: The Action Committee of the Unions of Employees and Engineers, representing over 1 lakh employees, engineers, and officers from Maharashtra's three electricity companies, has announced a 48-hour strike on September 25-26, 2024. This strike is a response to six critical demands that the unions believe must be addressed by the government.

The decision for the strike follows a series of protests, including a "dwarsabha" (door-to-door meeting) held on September 19, 2024, and earlier demonstrations in front of board, circle, generation, and transmission centres. If their demands are not met, the unions are prepared to escalate their actions to an indefinite strike. 

Prominent leaders involved in this movement include President Mohan Sharma and General Secretary Krishna Bhoyer of the Maharashtra State Electricity Workers Federation, among others. Under the guidance of Haji Syed Zahiruddin, General Secretary of the Maharashtra State Electricity Technical Workers Association, the movement aims to unite various organizations to amplify their voice.

The demands presented by the unions include: 

1. Implementation of a Pension Scheme: Workers are advocating for a pension scheme for all electricity employees and engineers, highlighting the risks they take in ensuring uninterrupted power supply to over 3 crore consumers.

2. Revival of Pension Promises: The unions are calling for the immediate implementation of a pension scheme promised in 2009, which has yet to materialize.

3. Cancellation of Hydropower Plant Privatization: They are opposing the government's decision to privatize 16 hydropower plants that have been successfully generating electricity for 25 years.

4. Opposition to Mahapareshan Privatization: Employees are against plans to privatize the Mahapareshan Company, a significant public power transmission entity.

5. Reversal of Prepaid-Smart Meter Plans: The unions demand a halt to the privatization of Mahavitran through the Prepaid-Smart Meter Scheme, which they claim will lead to significant job losses.

6. Job Security for Contract Workers: There is a call for the gradual retention of 42,000 contract workers, ensuring equal pay for equal work and job security up to 60 years.

As the strike date approaches, union leaders are urging the government to engage in positive discussions to address their grievances. They have warned that if their demands are ignored, it could disrupt power generation, distribution, and lead to law and order issues across the state.

Further, the Action Committee members have said that the government will be held responsible for any disruptions that may arise from their protests, stressing the importance of immediate dialogue to prevent industrial unrest.