Oil PSU Officers Defer Strike

Officers of sDelhi owned oil firms have suspended their plan to launch an indefinite strike for three weeks claiming that a categorical assurance was given by the Government to consider their demands relating to higher wages.

"We have been given categorical assurance by the (Petroleum) Ministry that the issues would be resolved within three weeks and hence the decision to defer the strike," Oil Sector Officers' Association (OSOA) Convener Ashok Singh said.

He said the OSOA found the Government's offer "reasonably good" and they also considered Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's appeal not to resort to agitation and his in-principle approval to setting up of a wage revision committee.

The decision to drop the strike plan came at a two-hour meeting of the OSOA that ended well past midnight. The employees were demanding periodic pay revisions every five years, 100 per cent dearness allowance neutralization with effect from January 1, 1996, 50 per cent DA merger and immediate release of additional stagnation increments.

They are also seeking an entry-level salary of Rs 50,000 per month (from Rs 20,000 per month) for management trainees and commensurate rise in emoluments at senior levels.