Deora appeals to PSUs employees to call off strike

New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) Petroleum Minister Murli Deora today appealed to Oil Sector Officers' Association (OSOA) to call off its proposed indefinite strike from December 2.

''I request thousands of executives of public sector oil companies not to go on strike, as it will create huge problem for public as well as the companies,'' Mr Deora said at the Economic Editors' Conference here.

The OSOA had earlier announced that over 50,000 officers in 14 state-run oil companies would go on an indefinite strike from December 2, protesting against non-revision of wages that was due from January 2007.

Meanwhile, Petroleum Ministry Additional Secretary S Sundareshan said the government is positively taking most of their demands and hoped that they would call off their proposed indefinite strike.

He said the matter is under the Cabinet's consideration, adding, the emoluments are likely to be economical in today's scenario.

On overall average basis, as per IOC calculations, annual increase in total emoluments is about Rs 4.5-8 lakh for below Board level Executives, Mr Sundareshan said.

It is extimated that the strike will result in revenue loss of Rs 225 crore per day from oil and gas production and Rs 900 crore from sale of fuels.

It would also result in Rs 100 crore per day loss in excise revenue for the government.

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