UT Powermen Union today held a protest rally in sector 17 against the central government's decision to hand over the Chandigarh electricity department to a private company.privatization The employees submitted a memorandum to Chandigarh (UT) administrator against the move to privatize the electricity distribution . The memorandum was received by SDM (east) on behalf of UT administrator

Gopal Joshi General Secretary of the Union said that due to the adamantday attitude of the government the employees will observe one day strike on February 1 followed by two days strike on February 23 and 24.

It may be mentioned that the high court on January 20 sought a response from the UT administration on a fresh plea moved by UT Powermen Union seeking stay on further steps in handing over of power services in Chandigarh to a private company.
The next date of hearing is March 6.

The rally was addressed by Dhyan Singh President , Gopal Dutt Joshi General Secretary .Amrik Singh Vice President, CITU President Gurdeep Singh and many other organisations leaders. They all supported the cause of power sector employees.

It has been alleged at the rally that UT administration has not brought the full facts of the cast before the central government.The employees demanded that transfer policy , their service conditions, pay, pension, gratuity and allowances should be protected at every cost.

VK Gupta, spokesperson, All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF), said that a delegation of the National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers (NCCOEEE) will meet UT Administrator on February 1 and hand over a memorandum to him against the privatization of the UT Power Department. NCCOEEE has decided to support UT power sector employees’ strike against the privatization.