Strike affects movement of petroleum products from Kochi Refinery

Kochi, Sep 20 (UNI) The movement and distribution of petroleum products, including aviation turbine fuel, benzene and toulene, from the BPCL Kochi Refinery has been affected following a 48-hour strike by workmen to press for higher bonus.

The strike, which started yesterday, has affected the distribution of products through lorries as the truck workers were also supporting the refinery workers' agitation, a spokesman for Kochi Refinery said.

However, there was no problem in the movement of petrol, kerosene and diesel, which are moved through railway wagons, he said.

While 15 to 20 per cent of the refinery's goods are moved through trucks, the balance is transported through railway wagons and there is no disruption in this. Nearly 150 to 200 railway wagons had left the refinery with petroleum products for distribution centres in Tamil Nadu, he said.

Stating that only about 45 per cent of the refinery's workers were on strike, the spokesman said that this had not affected the refinery's production as the plants were running smoothly. ''We are maintaining our daily production of about 24,000 tonnes,'' he added.

The National Coordination Committee of Trade Unions, BPCL, has called for a 48-hour strike to protest against ''discrimination'' in giving bonus.

The strike is scheduled to end tomorrow.

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