Ludhiana | June 15 – Contractual workers of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) launched an indefinite strike from midnight on Saturday, citing poor wages, unsafe working conditions, and the state government’s failure to regularise their jobs.
The striking workers have decided to join an ongoing protest in Ludhiana, where various employee unions are staging a sit-in ahead of the bypoll. Union leaders accused the government of repeatedly ignoring their appeals and said the strike was a last resort.
“We are forced to work without safety gear, which puts our lives at risk. As contractual workers, we receive no insurance or job security. Our pleas to the authorities have gone unheard, leaving us with no option but to strike,” said union representatives during a joint statement.
The protest is expected to affect power supply and field services, especially amid peak summer demand. Deputy Chief Engineer Jaswinder Singh Virdi acknowledged the challenge, admitting that the department is already understaffed.
“Handling complaints in this heat is difficult even under normal circumstances. The strike will put additional pressure on the system,” Virdi said. He added that temporary workers were being hired as a stopgap measure to manage essential services.
Despite attempts to limit disruption, PSPCL officials said the scale of the strike and participation across districts could lead to delays in fault repair, meter readings, and other routine operations if the standoff persists.
