Oil PSU officials go on nationwide strike

As many as 500 officers of public sector oil companies joined the protest starting at 6 am at Rajghat.

Officials of state-owned oil companies began a 24-hour nationwide hunger strike on Friday so as to mount pressure on the government to accept their demands, which also includes increased pay packets.

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As many as 500 officers of public sector oil companies joined the protest that started at 6 am at Rajghat.

"Fast is being observed throughout the country by officials at their respective work places," Oil Sector Officers' Association (OSOA) Convener Ashok Singh said.

OSOA is a representative body of executives of all public sector oil firms.

Public sector oil employees are demanding periodic pay revisions every five years, 100 per cent Dearness Allowance neutralisation with effect from January 1, 1996, 50 per cent DA merger, and immediate release of additional stagnation increments.

The association is 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.

The officials have also threatened to go on an indefinite strike beginning September 5 if the government does not pay heed to its demands.

The association also submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard on August 4.

"We are yet to hear from the government and we will go ahead with our plan of an indefinite strike from September 5," Singh said.