CHANDIGARH: In a major breakthrough for public services across Punjab, Finance Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Employee Issues and Demands, Harpal Singh Cheema, on Tuesday announced that 16 unions of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the staff unions of Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) have officially called off their strikes and returned to work. He said the decision comes after extensive marathon negotiations led by the state government over the past two days successfully addressed core grievances, including accepting key demands of health staff and establishing a dedicated financial committee for power sector workers.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Following intensive deliberations late at night with Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond and PSPCL CMD, followed by a marathon five-hour session chaired by me at the Patiala Head Office, a mutual consensus was reached with all 16 power sector unions.”
He said that the key participating unions, including the Technical Services union PSEB, PSEB Employee Federation AITUC, Ministerial Services Union PSEB(MSU), Association of Junior Engineers, PSEB Employee Federation (Bhardwaj), PSEB Thermal Employees Coordination Committee, PSEB Karamchari Dal Punjab, Employees Federation PSEB, Punjab Raj Bijli Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Worker Federation INTUC PSPCL/PSTCL, Employee Federation PSPCL/PSTCL (Pehalwan group), Employee Federation PSPCL/PSTCL (Chahal group), ITI Association, Grid Sub Station Employees Union Pb. (Reg.), Powercom & Transco Pensioners union (AITUC), Pensioners Welfare Federation Punjab (Pehalwan), Mulazam United Organisation etc, agreed to restore normal functioning. “To address the financial aspects of their demands, the government has constituted a dedicated financial committee set to submit its final report by August 15,” he added.
The Finance Minister further said that the issue involving the health sector has also been resolved following a meeting between Aam Aadmi Clinics (AAC) union representatives and the Managing Director of the National Health Mission (NHM). “The state government accepted the union’s primary demand to count their service experience when filling regular posts, while the remaining administrative demands remain under active consideration,” said Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
The Finance Minister also highlighted the progress regarding sanitation and sewerage board workers, with key unions withdrawing their calls following discussions with him and Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains.
Reaffirming the Punjab Government’s proactive stance, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “An ordinance to transition outsourced staff into contractual roles has been submitted to the Governor, paving the way for enhanced job security and service conditions for thousands of workers across the state,” he added. With normal operations now fully restored in power supply and healthcare, the Finance Minister reiterated the Punjab Government’s commitment to employee welfare while ensuring uninterrupted services for the people of Punjab.
