Govt gives in, oil PSU staff call off strike

Officers of public sector oil companies on Tuesday called off their strike after the government agreed to a higher interim relief ahead of the wage revision, reports Deepak Joshi.

Officers of public sector oil companies on Tuesday called off their strike after the government agreed to a higher interim relief ahead of the wage revision.

HT Image

The government decision was conveyed four hours after the officers went on indefinite strike.

Petroleum minister Murli Deora said, “ I am happy the officers called off their strike on my appeal. They have acted in a responsible manner.”

About 45,000 officers in public sector oil enterprises, including Indian Oil Corporation, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., began their indefinite strike from 6 a.m.

Representatives of the striking officers said the Petroleum Ministry had accepted their demand for giving interim relief of Rs 60,000-1,20,000 per employee from January 1, 2007, when wage revisions were due. Deora had offered Rs 50,000-1,00,000 interim payment on Monday.