Key PSU officers threaten strike

New Delhi, July 11 (UNI) Officers of Coal India Ltd (CIL), Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and National Hydrolectric Power Corporation Ltd will launch protests and if necessary strike work to press for better pay and other benefits, their Joint Forum of Officers' Associations said today.

They are demanding merger of 50 per cent Dearness Allowance with basic pay on the pattern of Central Government employees, financial autonomy to PSUs in respect of deciding pay, perks and allowances for employees and removal of monetary ceiling on payment of gratuity.

A meeting of the Joint Forum that discussed the issues decided that if the demands were not met by July end, then the officers would launch protest programmes from August one and go on indefinite strike any day after September 12, the Forum said in a statement.

A dharna would be organised outside the office of the Department of Public Enterprises on August 1-2. The officers would wear black badges on August 7 and 8, sumbit memoranda to the Prime Minister on August 17, hold gate meetings at their business units on August 21 and 22 and start relay hunger strike on September 5.

A token strike would be organised on September 12 after which a decision on starting an indefinite strike would be taken if the demands were not met.

UNI VN VJ HS1843