Oil officers strike from Aug 21, relief in the offing

New Delhi, Aug 20: With more than 45,000 officers of the oil sector PSUs gearing up to strike work indefinitely beginning early tomorrow, a move that would disrupt petrol and LPG supplies across the country, oil firms are planning for an interim relief package to its agitating employees.

''We have given an in-principle recognition to the merit of their demands and are proposing to give an interim relief,'' ONGC Chairman and Managing Director R S Sharma said.

The officers are demanding salary revision and release of ad hoc payment. However Mr Sharma said human resource directors of the oil PSUs have been meeting since the past two days and an interim package, comprising of ex-gratia payment and monthly allowance, has been proposed.

Mr Sharma said the PSUs have already put in place a contingency plan to see that oil and gas production, refinery operation and fuel retailing are not effected.

India Oil Officers association head, Subodh Daghwala told UNI