AP Electricity Employees End Indefinite Strike After Successful Talks
After prolonged discussions between the management, government officials, and employee union leaders, Andhra Pradesh electricity employees withdrew their proposal for an indefinite strike. The talks, which began last Tuesday and continued in multiple sessions, culminated in a successful agreement on several key demands by Friday afternoon under the supervision of Chief Secretary Vijayanand. Discussions extended until 2 AM on Friday, finalizing agreements on most of the 29 demands listed in the strike notice.
Although the management did not agree to regularize contract and outsourced employees, it accepted several major proposals, prompting the unions to call off the strike. Key demands approved include:
- Provision of medical services and insurance for contract employees
- Financial benefits during retirement
- Paid leave for employees facing accidents
- Weightage benefits based on cadre for employees with 10 years of service
- Salary revisions for contract staff as per the 2022 PRC
- Filling lower-level vacancies with diploma holders
- Promotion of energy assistants in village and ward secretariats to JLM Grade-2
- One-time relaxation in age limit for compassionate appointments
Demands not agreed upon include:
- Regularization of contract and outsourced staff
- Direct salary payment to contract employees instead of through agencies
- Inclusion of employees appointed between 1999–2004 under GPF, with a committee to decide later
After the discussions, union leaders raised objections regarding the minutes prepared by the management, citing that some guarantees promised by Chief Secretary Vijayanand were not accurately recorded. Multiple revisions were made before the final agreement was signed.
