Strike called off on promise of higher interim relief

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) With the government agreeing on a higher interim relief, the indefinite stir called by about 45,000 officers of the state-owned oil sector companies has been called off hours after they struck work today.

The Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA), which is spearheading the agitation met Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, who has agreed on a higher interim relief from January 1, 2007.

The indefinite strike was called by thousands of employees of public sector oil companies, including IOC, HPCL, BPCL and ONGC.

OSOA Convener R P Srivastava said here, ''The employees will return to work immediately,''.

OSOA was to go on strike from September 5 last year, but the agitation was called off following an assurance from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to look into their demands.

The strike began early this morning at 0600 hrs demanding merger of 50 per cent dearness allowance with basic pay, release of ad-hoc payment and withdrawal of tax on perquisites.

The strike if it had went would have disrupted fuel supplies including petrol, LPG, aviation fuel etc.

Sanjay Goel, President of officers union in ONGC, said the Petroleum Ministry had accepted their demand for giving an interim relief of Rs 60,000-1,20,000 per employee.

The Petroleum Ministry had declared the strike illegal as various High Courts had refrained the officers from taking such an action.

Besides, being liable of contempt of court, the officers also faced severe disciplinary action.

UNI