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The Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA), which claims to represent executives at 14 state-run firms, is protesting against a pay increase smaller than it had demanded.
"We are only being offered verbal assurances and there is nothing concrete," OSOA President Amit Kumar said.
Kumar, who yesterday met BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani on the issue, said no talks were planned with the Government. "There is no point talking to Deora or the Petroleum Ministry as they have nothing to offer us."
Officers of Hindustan Petroleum are not participating in the strike, while those of Oil India Ltd may also not join the agitation.
Deora asked executives not to strike as the nation is going through a difficult economic phase even as it grappled with terrorism originating from foreign soil.
"A strike in the oil sector can cripple the economy and cause severe hardship to citizens," he said. "We are not vindictive against our own officers. All we want is that the economy is not be impacted and citizens are spared of any hardship."
Deora this morning spoke to Home Minister P Chidambaram and several state chief ministers, including Ashok Chavan of Maharasthra and Tarun Gagoi of Assam, for safety and security of the oil installations during the agitation.
He also wrote to all the chief ministers, asking them to invoke Essential Supplies Maintenance Act (ESMA) to ensure that auto and cooking fuel supplies are not choked. Punitive National Security Act (NSA) would be invoked in states that do not have ESMA.
Also, contempt proceedings against OSOA office bearers has been initiated in high courts, which had barred the body from striking till next date of hearing in February.
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Oil sector employees are justified in their strike for addressing their grievances. The Govt knew about the disaffection among oil co. officials over the sixth pay commission – why was no action taken earlier to negotiate? Every oil sector employee is entitled to earn rational wages. The Govt. seems to be blissfully unaware of the arbitration methods to resolve disputes in a democratic country.
The call for stike given is due to the inaction of the present Govt. Last pay revision took place in Jan 1997,
Demands for better pay can be made in other ways. Striking is not a way to demand.do you think the officers in the petroleum cos. are all clean. So of them are so corrupt that they will exceed their political bosses. Yes the officers down the line could be considerd for pay hikes but some of them at the higher level deserve to be kicked out.
Honrable Prime Minister is reqested to look personelly the genuine demand of better pay package to psu employee who is back bone of our country in paying higest revenue where as IAS(DPE)has down graded Justice Rao committees recomendation also.It is very unfortunate and short sightedness of our Gov.also.You are requested to sort out the matter immediately and ignore DPE guide line and give better pay package than the central govt.employee who are simply draining the tax paid money and creating hurdle in development of our country
the best solution is to layoff murali deora adn secretary pandy and appoint some efficient people
this is the irony of situation that the profit making oil sector firm have to go on strike for their genuine demands.goverment should look into this matter on topmost priorirty because these firms all profit making and for retaining the best talent within the company they have to provide better monetary benifits to their employees otherwise this would lead to low morale of executives and lead to great migration rates of talent pool.
This is Govt of inaction. A Govt which cannot react properly to serious security threats endangering the security of the nation, cannot be expected to take timely action to redress the grievances of PSU oil company employees. The strike notice was given long back and enough time was there to redress the grievances and avoid a stand off situation. Now threatening the Oil Sector Officer Association Office bearers with ESMA and even NSA reflects the Govt's bankruptcy in addressing issues. Every issue cannot be dealt with a 'Danda'. You cannot prevent people to exercise their constitutional rights. However, the Oil PSU employees should also think of the common people and give one more chance to the Govt and in case the Govt fails to redress their grievances, then they are free to go on strike.
Dear K P offcourse psu employee should think and that is done thrice and posponded strike on assurance of government and after making commitment they doing nothing
sir, where is the time to goe one more chance, if you gove one more month as they demand, that;s all the election is due so we will be left with no support., these SoB looking for lame excuse and when the president and judges who are working in service sector but got 300% jump and we are making profit but offered only peanuts and i can manage with this package to buy a huggy pad to my child
this is all irony of the situation that the oil sector employees which are are providing great profits to goverment and they are the largest revenue earning companies but they are betrayed again and again.in my opinion govt. should take the action on oil sectors executives demands seriously and provide them justice otherwise these companies will be ruined as our central goverment sick companies and the down morale will lead the itration rate on higher side and this will have cascaded effect on companies and our country future growth.