TWENTY Seven lakh electricity employees and engineers are gearing up for a massive strike on 26th June 26, 2025. This strike is set to be the largest sectoral action by electricity employees in recent decades. In addition to this, electricity employees and engineers will join the strike called by the Central Trade Unions of India in protest against the proposed implementation of the Labour Codes. These decisions were made during the National Convention of Electricity Employees and Engineers held in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on February 23, 2025.

The National Federations of Electricity Employees and Engineers, under the banner of the National Coordination Committee, expressed grave concerns over the multi-pronged attacks on the public electricity sector and the energy security of the country. The convention highlighted the assaults on the democratic rights of electricity employees and consumers, particularly in Uttar Pradesh (UP). The strike proposal received strong support from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Central Trade Union leaders present at the convention. The strike is a direct response to the attacks unleashed by the central and several state governments on the public power industry.

After being elected for a third term, the NDA government has intensified its efforts to privatise all public electricity utilities. Following the central government's directives, the Chandigarh UT Administration forcibly privatised its highly profitable, efficient, and low-tariff power utility in an irregular manner. Similar aggressive privatisation moves have targeted Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd. (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd. (DVVNL) in Uttar Pradesh, jeopardising the jobs of 27,000 employees and engineers and 50,000 contract workers. Electricity employees and engineers in UP have been resisting these moves for the past 87 days, despite provocations and attacks by the UP administration.

The Rajasthan government has also initiated a bidding process to privatise generation and battery storage projects. Meanwhile, a prolonged battle has been ongoing in Telangana, where the government plans to hand over the electricity distribution service of the South Hyderabad Circle to the Adani Group.

The central government is accelerating its efforts to privatise state DISCOMs (distribution companies). A regional meeting on the power sector was held in New Delhi on February 20, involving states and union territories such as Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. According to a press release from the Ministry of Power, "States have urged the centre for support in privatising distribution," and "Listing of utilities will be taken up by states to attract investment." It is evident that these state governments are moving swiftly to advance their privatisation agendas.

To further facilitate privatisation, the Government of India has formed a Group of Ministers, with the UP Energy Minister as its convener. This minister is notorious for his aggressive privatisation campaigns. And, the central government is preparing to introduce a new draft of the Electricity Amendment Bill. These developments are likely to intensify the struggle in the coming days.

The imposed policies are anti-worker, anti-peasant, and anti-people. The so-called reforms have already proven disastrous for the national economy, energy sovereignty, and security of the country. This represents a final assault on India's public electricity distribution sector, which could lead to massive de-electrification and threaten the nation's food security. Moreover, these actions undermine the federal structure of India.

The National Convention outlined the future course of joint actions:

• A national strike in the electricity sector will be observed on June 26, 2025 by electricity employees and engineers. This strike is in protest against the anti-people and anti-worker privatisation policies of the central and several state governments.
• To ensure the success of this strike, five regional meetings of NCCOEEE constituents will be held in March 2025.
• State-level joint mass conventions will be organised in April 2025.
• Four massive rallies will be held in Uttar Pradesh in March 2025 to oppose the UP government's attempts at privatisation.
• A mass campaign will be conducted across the country in May 2025.

In the meantime, the Central Trade Unions may call for a General Strike in the first week of May. NCCOEEE constituents will issue separate strike notices highlighting the issues facing the power sector and power employees.

The Electricity Employees Federation of India (EEFI) urges all power employees to ensure the success of these historic strike actions. EEFI also appeals to consumers to stand in solidarity with the electricity employees, who are courageously fighting against all odds to protect the "Right to Electricity" for consumers. The privatising governments should be prepared to face two massive strikes in consecutive months – a first in India's history!

MARCH TOWARDS THE NATIONAL STRIKE ON JUNE 26, 2025!
HALT THE PRIVATISATION OF THE POWER SECTOR!