In a statement issued on Thursday, five unions threatened to launch an agitation in protest against the attempts by engineers to get benefit in salary at the cost of the linemen.

Talking to Express Newsline, B S Patel of the Akhil Gujarat Vidyut Karmachari Sangh said the rally would be the beginning of agitational programmes to be launched in future. However, the date of the rally is yet to be finalised.

While V K Raulji of another Union, alleged that many times engineers were not found in the headquarters, though it was mandatory for them, union leader M G Rajyaguru, said, ``They intend to get benefit at the cost of linemen, who work at odd hours in difficult situations''.

IT may be recalled that the board engineers were not included when a settlement was reached between the GEB and five Unions at Dhuvaran in March. Ever since, the engineers have been demanding benefits as per the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations.