Thiruvananthapuram: The indefinite strike waged by the Left trade unions outside the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) headquarters here in protest against many decisions of Chairman B Ashok came to an end on Saturday after the success of conciliatory talks held at the initiative of Electricity Minister K Krishnan Kutty.
Leave will be granted for the strike period. There will be no disciplinary action against the employees who went on strike.
As part of the conciliatory agreement, Ashok withdrew his controversial Facebook post that contained serious allegations against the union leaders and cited many irregularities in the KSEB that occurred during the time of the previous Pinarayi Vijayan Government.
Later, speaking to media in Palakkad, Electricity Minister K Krishnan Kutty said that there was no plan to remove Ashok from the post of the KSEB Chairman.
The meeting was held online as Ashok was down with COVID-19. The meeting gave approval to the five suggestions put forward by the KSEB Chairman.
The service of the State Industrial Security Force (SISF) will be restricted to the Data Centre and the Sub Load Despatch Centre at Vydyuthi Bhavanam, the headquarters of the public utility in Thiruvananthapuram.
A restroom and a CCTV control screen will be provided to the SISF near Data Centre. In other parts of Vyduthi Bhavanam, the existing security arrangements will continue.
Necessary changes will be made to the earlier orders issued by the KSEB, providing security cover to the entire Vydyuthi Bhavanam building by the SISF and banning any kind of strike in front of the building.
Monthly meetings
It was also decided that the coordination committee would hold talks with the representatives of trade unions and officers' associations every month.
A decision on exiting disputes over the salary agreement and other issues will be disposed of by the management after holding talks with the unions.
Promotion for 4,230 employees
The long hauled-up promotions of many employees will be implemented with immediate effect in the wake of the favourable Supreme Court order.
As many as 4,230 employees will benefit from the decision. The Minister had directed the KSEB Chairman to implement the promotions within two weeks.
As per the decision, 3,170 workers will be promoted from lineman 2 to lineman 1, while 830 employees will be promoted from lineman 1 to overseer.
As many as 90 employees will be promoted from overseer/meter reader to sub engineer. Moreover, 140 sub engineers will be promoted to assistant engineers.
Reduced tariff during daytime
The Electricity Minister said that the KSEB was planning to reduce the power tariff during the daytime for domestic consumers. A proposal to this effect will be submitted to the Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Smart meters will be installed for enabling the KSEB to take separate readings day and night.
As per the new Central Act, the installation of smart meters at homes has been made compulsory.
The Central Government would give a 15 per cent subsidy for installing smart meters at homes.
