Oil companies gear up for indefinite strike
In case the strike goes ahead, the oil industry will have a business loss to the tune of Rs 1,400 crore per day and around Rs 550 crore revenue loss to the govt alone.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Consumers may face a difficult time in getting petrol and diesel from Tuesday as officials of public sector oil companies, IOC, BPCL and HPCL, have decided to go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday after their talks with the government remained inconclusive.
The Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA) claimed that nearly 45,000 officers will join the indefinite stir, which could hit operations of refineries and aviation refuelling facilities, and oil and gas production units.
“We had a meeting with the officials of petroleum ministry led by its additional secretary S Sundresan. As the meeting failed, we have no option but to go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday,” IOC officers association general secretary Tanmay Chatterjee told ET.
The oil industry will have a business loss to the tune of Rs 1,400 crore per day and around Rs 550 crore revenue loss to the government alone if the strike goes ahead, OSOA coordinator RP Srivastava said. OSOA has called for an indefinite strike from Tuesday protesting against lack of progress on salary issues.
An official in the petroleum ministry has, however, said that the government has put in place “a contingency plan” to tackle any situation. “A contingency plan for running of key installations like oil and gas producing wells, refineries and aviation facilities with the help of territorial army has been put in place,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, oil marketing companies are readying their contingency measures. “We will not permit our operations to suffer in any way. Senior officials are manning the assets and territorial army has been deployed across locations,” said ONGC director (human resources) AK Balyan. “The ministry officials are still in discussions with OSOA and I believe an amicable solution will come up before strike,” he added.
HPCL chairman Arun Balakrishnan said the company had adequate plans to ensure that its customers were not affected.
“The association is agitated on inordinate delay and resolution of the various pending issues such as periodicity of salary revision, 50% merger of DA (dearness allowance) with the basic pay as on January 1, 2005, and release of ad hoc payment towards salary revision,” a release by the agency said.
ADVERTISEMENT
OSOA was to go on strike from September 5 last year, but the agitation was called off following an assurance from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to look into their demands. Start a SIP with as low as ₹500 with ET Money App!
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
