Oil companies call off strike, govt to constitute pay panel

New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) Oil companies today called off their country wide strike over wage hike after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh advised the Department of Public Enterprise (DPE) to constitute a pay panel that would look into the salary-related demands of the officers of all Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs).

The Prime Minister has asked Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and Heavy Industry and Public Enterprise Minister Santosh Mohan Deb that a pay panel should be soon constituted by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) to look into the demands of not only public sector oil companies but also other PSUs.

The DPE has recommended setting up of the committee for consideration of revision of the pay scales of Executives of CPSUs at Board level, below board level and non unionised supervisors with effect from January 2007.

Mr Deora and Mr Dev had met the Prime Minister last night.

The Oil Sector Officers' Association (OSOA) which was to start their indefinite strike from today morning said that ''in view of the assurances and positive response to resolve our issues, we have decided to withdraw our proposed agitation''.

The oil companies are demanding pay parity with Multi-national companies. OSOA convenor, Ashok Singh told UNI that ''We would even accept the hire and fore policy of the MNCs, if the pay parity is given.'' On the behalf of the association, we would also thank officials of Petroleum and Natural Gas as well as the managements of Oil PSUs for the efforts, Mr Singh said.

Mr Deora assured the representatives of OSOA who met him along with Mr Deb early in the day that the commitments made to the association last night would be fulfilled.

He said it was his endeavour to strive for the welfare of the officers and employeees of PSUs under his ministry.

Mr Deb also asured the officers the fullest cooperation of the government and complimented them for calling of their proposed strike.

Mr Deora said that with the calling of the strike it had spared the consumers and the country of the hardships, which would have been caused due to the stir.

The meeting took place between OSOA and Mr Deora as early as 0130 in the morning where the Union decided to consider the assurance given by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister.

Companies including ONGC, IOC, HPCL, BPCL,CPCL, IBP, BL, GAIL, KRL, BRPL and NRL were to go on indefinite stir starting this morning at 0600 hrs after talks with Mr Deora failed yesterday to make any head-way.

The 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.

Sources in the Petroleum Ministry said that the ministry has already made its recommendations to DPE favouring the demands of the oil PSU officials.

Prime Minister Manmaohan Singh also urged the officers of state-owned oil companies to call off their indefinite stir.

OSOA, which represents one-third of the 1,30,000 strong workforce in oil PSUs, had last struck work on January 11, 2000, which had crippled the aviation sector.

A strike in the oil sector could mean a loss of Rs 164.5 crore on oil sales of 5.22 lakh barrels a day and Rs 17.28 crore on gas sales of 54 million standard cubic metres a day.

Loss of production for value added products like naphtha, high-speed diesel and kerosene is expected at 9,300 tonnes per day.

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