Power sector staff postpone Dec 8 nationwide strike

A forum of power sector employees and engineers has postponed a day-long nationwide strike scheduled for December 8 after the government invited the group for talks on the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2014.

"National Coordination Committee Of Electricity Employees & Engineers (NCCOEEE) has postponed the one-day work boycott on December 8 against Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2014," All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The decision was taken after senior government officials, including Labour Secretary, had a word with the unionists and assured them of talks with Power Minister Piyush Goyal on December 4 when he returns from Paris.

AIPEF spokesperson V K Gupta said that the meeting was called by Labour Secretary in which officers of Ministry of Power were also present. "During the meeting, it was also intimated by Ministry of Power that no final decision has yet been taken by the Cabinet on the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2014 and before taking any final decision, the issue will be discussed with NCCOEEE in detail", it said.

The meeting was also attended by veteran trade union leader AB Bardhan and AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey, among others.