Oil PSU staff threaten strike, seek pay hike

Raising the spectre of fuel supply disruptions, 45,000 executives of 13 public sector oil companies have threatened to strike work from May 31.

A union, Oil Sector's Officers Association (OSOA), which has members up to the level of deputy general managers announced this today. They want up to a 100 per cent hike in their salaries.

"A notice of strike has been served on the government and we will stop all work from 6 am on May 31," OSOA Convener Ashok Singh said.

If the threat is carried out, operations of companies like IndianOil, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, GAIL (India), Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum are likely to be affected.

These companies supply retail fuel across the country. Cooking gas may not be affected as it is covered under the Essential Services Maintenance Act.

However, the strike may impact production at refineries and oil platforms, as these executives are directly involved in supervising work at that level.

The threat of a strike looms large after six years. In January 2000, the same union had struck work, affecting aviation fuel supply among other things.

That strike was called off in four hours, after the then Petroleum Minister Ram Naik intervened to sign a memorandum promising higher compensation from 2002.

Addressing the media, Singh said the government was yet to fulfill that promise.