AJKEDLWU gives 15 days ultimatum to concede their demands

Endorses EJAC strike call on Jan 12

All Jammu and Kashmir Electric Department Linemen and Workers Union today served 15 days ultimatum to the State Govt. to concede their demands otherwise they forced to launch agitation. Announcing this in a press conference here today, Ghulam Nabi Bhat, President of the Union said that daily wagers, need basis employees and contractual employees working in PDD in Jammu province deprived of their rights and benefits prescribed under the service rule and SROs which has deepened their problems of sustenance. He further said that they were termed as backbone of the department and rendering their services honestly are facing adamant treatment from the Govt. and concerning department. Bhat said that in spite of approaching the authorities at various levels for their demands but the things did not move in proper direction and situation became bad to worse. Bhat highlighted demands, which included rationalization/reorganization of the department so that situation at ground level improved, implementation of SRO 59, regularization of daily wagers, lineman, SBAs, meter readers, line erector deserves to be put under technical grades on the same analogy as in the other department, risk allowance, benefit of ITI grades, daily wagers entrusted with the job of linemen or some mechanism be created and in case of any eventuality they should be properly compensated. The workers said if Govt. failed to concede demands within 15 days, they shall be formulated next course of action to be initiated to achieve the justified demands. The Union leaders however endorsed the one-day strike called by Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) on January 12, 2010. Among others who were present in the press conference included Rattan Singh, president Jammu province, Susheel Sain, Surinder Kumar, Shakti, Ashiq Hussain, Kuldeep Singh and others