The employees' union – Akhil Gujarat Vidyut Kamdar Sangh (AGVKS) has planned a statewide protest against the floating of tender notices for handing over the operation of 400 Kilowatt (KW) and 220 KW sub-stations to private companies.

The union has written a letter to the GETCO administration, saying that the privatisation move violated the tripartite agreement worked out with them during the corporatisation of the erstwhile Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB).

The letter said the union had initially resisted the move to carve out separate bodies, but finally gave in, when a tripartite agreement was reached in matters relating to policy issues. At present, GETCO has invited tender bids for operation as well as maintenance of the sub station, but the unions have alleged that it is just a step towards privatisation.

Referring to the tender notices that have been uploaded on the website of GETCO, the union has expressed fears related to job security as well as withdrawal of other amenities, in the future.

The union has said that substations, which are worth crores of rupees, will now be handed over to private operators, harming the company in the long run.