Adamant on the issue of salary hike, the Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA)—an amalgamation of officer unions of 14 PSU oil firms—has decided to go on an indefinite strike from January 7. The association is of the view that the wage hike approved by the government worked out to only 17 per cent, which was much less than what was promised.

“We feel betrayed by the government. Several promises were made, but the ministers have not kept them. We have seen only 17 per cent hike in the last ten years. The first revision was done only in 1997,” OSOA general secretary Rajan Pillai said in Vadodara.

The different associations have sent a memorandum to the Union Government to take action. “Despite repeated reminders to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Heavy Industries Minister Santosh Mohan Dev and Minister of State for Finance P K Bansal, nothing has been done so far,” added Pillai.

OSOA members said the oil sector turnover is Rs 5.5 lakh crore, which is 15 per cent of India’s GDP. It contributes 64 per cent of gross revenues of the government. “If the Oil PSUs can share the subsidy of Rs 1, 50,000 crore for the country, then why should employees of the PSUs suffer?” they said.

Officials said a strike in oil PSUs would mean problems for the already strained economy. “A day of strike by oil PSUs would mean Rs 1,000 crore loss for the government. The effects of the strike will be far-reaching. From LPG cylinders to petrol and from CNG to aviation fuel, supplies everywhere will be affected,” said Pillai.