The Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) had on Tuesday decided to give the benefits as per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 17, 1998, following a strike notice given earlier by the association. The benefits, which include enhanced field allowance, would levy a burden of additional Rs 17.73 crore.

While earlier nearly 4,500 members were to go on work to rule on February 11, now they would go on work to rule from February 17. The mass casual leave would be taken on March 5 instead of February 17 and indefinite strike would begin from March 6 instead of February 18, according to Association sources.

According to GEB sources, the Board had received the strike notice, in which the association had raised several issues, claiming that the Board had agreed to them orally. Official sources said the Board was observing the situation and would decide the course of action in wake of the development soon.

An Association release stated that while the engineers had demanded 20 per cent field allowance, the Government agreed for only 19 per cent and included the remaining one per cent (Rs 2.89 per cent) in the burden announced. However, Board sources claimed the Association had agreed to accept the decisions taken by the Minister concerned.