BS Reporters / New Delhi/ Mumbai/ Ahmedabad Jan 10, 2009, 00:40 IST
Govt flexes muscles, refuses to accede to demands.
Within hours of the government cracking down on them, ordering arrests and calling in the Army, the oil PSU executives gave in this evening and called off their three-day-old strike, which had crippled fuel supplies and affected power generation in the country.
“Everything will be normal by tomorrow,” Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said, giving relief to millions of commuters, who were starved of fuel due to a majority of petrol pumps and CNG fuelling stations going dry because of the agitation.
Some 55,000 executives from 13 government-owned oil companies — under the umbrella of the Oil Sector Officers’ Association (OSOA) — began an indefinite strike on Wednesday demanding higher wages.
Army was called in to manage loading and dispatches to petrol pumps as the government ordered arrests and dismissals of officers keeping off work. The move cracked OSOA, with Bharat Petroleum, the second largest retailer, walking out of the agitation instantly.
With 67 executives of the ONGC and Indian Oil already terminated and more lists being drawn, the other constituents of OSOA in bits and pieces withdrew from the agitation that had also delayed domestic and international flights.
OSOA was unhappy with the hike in salaries approved by the government and brought key refineries and oil and gas fields to a grinding halt.
OSOA President Amit Kumar, who had been in hiding since the strike began on January 7, stated that OSOA withdrew the strike late this evening on assurances given by Deora for considering their demands at a meeting with him last night.
But Deora countered this, saying no assurance had been given and OSOA demands would be considered by a committee of ministers headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram.
“We have not yet worked out the loss estimates of the strike,” Petroleum Secretary RS Pandey said.
“As many as 138 CNG stations would be fully functional by tonight,” he added.
Two-thirds of the petrol pumps across the country ran dry as refineries were shut down. Gas-based power generation was hit, fertiliser production was down and flights were delayed as the oil executives stayed away from work despite invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) by many states.
After negotiations, which went on till late Thursday, the government decided that there was no scope for any further negotiation.
The officers said that their demands — chiefly one of wage hike — should be acceded to immediately rather than within the 30 days that the Group of Ministers (headed by the home minister) promised. OSOA says that the real average wage hike has just been 17 per cent rather than the 55-149 per cent claimed by the government.
“Our demand is that we should be given a hike of 32.5 per cent,” said a senior ONGC employee from Gujarat. The other demands include pay revision every five years instead of 10 years.
“We have no scope for any discussion. There is no demand to negotiate. This is absolute unreasonable obstinacy,” said Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Chairman Sarthak Behuria earlier in the day.
The company runs about half of the 37,000 fuel retail pumps in the country as well as some of the key refineries like Mathura and Panipat. It has estimated the loss from the strike at about Rs 30 crore per day.
The oil companies have declared Saturday and Sunday as full working days to compensate for the crores of rupees of losses that the strike has caused.
The oil officers are getting a gross salary of Rs 1-3 lakh each after the pay revision, in addition to various special allowances and are among the “privileged sections of society. Such a behaviour is unacceptable,” said a statement from the oil ministry.
Mahanagar Gas (MGL) resumed supply to a few of its compressed natural gas (CNG) stations with additional supply of gas from ONGC. The company was able to start around 43 CNG outlets by Friday evening. There are about 132 CNG stations in Mumbai.
Oil PSU officers certainly deserve a better pay keeping in mind the hazardous conditions they work, which should have been finalised in 2007 itself. Already oil PSUs are loosig the telented officers to private sector or to middle east. It is very unfortunate that the media exaggerated the salaries of officers and showed them in bad light. If the government does not act, the profit making oil psus will become loss making companies.
Gayatri.C
IT sector has salary revision every year. Sometimes even twice a year. Oil sector has revision once in 10 years. That too coming from Pay Commission. Why have the management tacitly supported the strike, as alleged. Any idea how many talented people PSU Oil Sector has lost to multinational.
Why does the Govt indulge in false propoganda? And invoke ESMA? The Govt should have taken the issue on merits.
My wife has 18 years of service and earns an amount which 1/3 of what the Govt claims.
Shame.
all electronoc and print media is painting highly qulified and dedicated group of OIL sector officers in very bad light.They are the officers who work hanad in hand with army OR any natural calamities to run the nation be it Kargil or flood. But all are insensitive to ther just demand. what is the reason which has forced these 55000 highly qualified officers to go on strike? No one is looking this. This has been pending for last two years.Wrong figure are being quoted in media.
Can some one answer
1.why situation like has come,to go on strike?
2.was the demands genuine?
3.was the salary statement at entry level of 1.0 lac correct?
4.Is media specially zeenews authentic?
5.Is comparing highly profes. qualified technocrats with terrorist justified?
6.supply of electricity, water,food etc.but have u faced the problem of petrol,diesel how many times,this is due to the rentless service of whome?
7.Working conditions in Oil PSU,not what Petro.sec has said?
Reflect.
Hi All,
For your information a E-1 level employee of ONGC is getting only 26000 in hand before Pay revision and after pay revision the lump sump amount is approx 29500. But we got the news from ZEE News, that the employee who is joining an oil PSU is getting more than 70000 in a month that is very shocking news. They are saying after pay commission salary becomes more than 100000 but friends groung reality is totally different.
The latest strike of oil psus is the live example of the dirty game of politics and bureaucracy. Being oil man we have every responsibility towards our job and the people of this country. We are the people who always standby the masses in the crisis. How one can say us deshdrohi when we give our hard earned money to the benevolence of the people, lets not talk of the thousands of crores of rupees to the government as subsidies.
It was deplorable the way media handled the OIL PSU strike . The irresponsible behaviour of media is disgraceful . Before commenting on the pay packet of PSU employees it should have been confirmed.Media is the watch dog of democracy and not the puppet of the government.It appeared as if we are being ruled by britishers and this was the Mutiny of 1857.
It was deplorable the way media handled the OIL PSU strike . The irresponsible behaviour of media is disgraceful . Before commenting on the pay packet of PSU employees it should have been confirmed.Media is the watch dog of democracy and not the puppet of the government.It appeared as if we are being ruled by britishers and this was the Mutiny of 1857.
It was highly deploarable the way OIL PSu strike was handled by the Government.It appeared as if India was under the british rule.Media is the watch dog of democracy not the puppet of government.Before flashing the pay packet of PSU employees it should have been confirmed.Why was the government sleeping for 2years regarding pay revision of PSU employees? DId media bother to find that out . The way media has handled the the whole episode of PSU strike is disgrace and deplorable.
you meadia people also behave like a women , can any of you have guts and manliness to workout and publish how one lakh per months arrived, we are very happy if we get one lakh permonth
R S PANDEY , YOU DESERVE PARAMVIR CHAKRA FOR TACKLING THE STRIKE , YOU SHOULD BE SENT TO DEFENCE MINISTRY TO TACKLE TERRIRISM OR TO PAKISTAN AS AMBASSODOR TO MEET PAK GOVT. OFFICILS TO WIPE OF TERRORISM FROM PAKISTAN . WILL YOU AGREE .
While we have no option but to appriciate the action of Govt. to force the honest oil sector workers in calling off their strike , we sincerly request Govt Buerocrats and Honourable Ministers to show such efficiency in tackling the terrorism from our beloved country so that a common man can take breath with peace , One can not understand why this is not happening , any one can think that in tackling such issues one require courage to fight with the terrorism .
While we have no option but to appriciate the action of Govt. to force the honest oil sector workers in calling off their strike , we sincerly request Govt Buerocrats and Honourable Ministers to show such efficiency in tackling the terrorism from our beloved country so that a common man can take breath with peace , One can not understand why this is not happening , any one can think that in tackling such issues one require courage to fight with the terrorism .
The petrolum minister ideally should have arrested few union employees to set an example that the public sector employees cannot do whatever they want with essential commodities and to take the country to ransom.
We are doing job day-night at 45 degree C temp to get one drop of oil. We are doing job in sea in rough condition to get one drop of oil. This oil is used for the nation. If it is terorist act then I admit my self I am doing terorist act.Please media represent true picture and do not be baised. Do not morally down us by telling this type of pain ful words. Because we have to produce more oil in future for the sake of our beloved nation.
The most unfortunate part is that the whole episode has completely demorlised and shaken the majority of hardworking employees. The media portrayal is in total contradiction to the reality of how oil is explored and exploited. All hopes are lost forever. Good god we have a free media..ha!
This strike is a result of more than 2 years of discussions with government for a genuine pay package due after 10 years. We are ready to pay to private parties but not even 20% to our PSU employees for the similar jobs. The companies are already facing a brain drain due to 4-5 times packages available within India and abroad. The employees are not polticians but are intellectuals. The way it was allowed to happen and was handled by group of some ministers & secretaries is simply dadagiri.
PET sec Mr R.S. Pandey, you killed the emotions of thousands of workers in this country by masking the truth. dont try to enter any oil PSU permises, They will definately spit on your face
The employees can protest only through calling for strike. Already talented are joining private sector or leaving for middle east. If this cotinues, how can oil psus make profit in a situation where already the country under economic slowdown. So as to retain the talented officers, they should be rewarded properly.
these oil PSU are earning profit due to hard work & employees are working in hazardous area but they are denied the fruits of their hard work when every stake holder is getting a share why the employees is denied???
babu( buearocrats ) should not compare the PSU officers in term of salary babus are enjoying power, status and many more..
The strike has been called off and the situation is returning to normal. But, the other side of the situation is very sad.The status of these employees has been reduced to the level of bonded labourers. They have to accept the low salaries given to them by the government. Should not the government respect the fundamental right of the protestors? We should dig deep to find out the truth behind the strike. 2009 is the 12th year running since the last revision.
The strike has been called off and the situation is returning to normal. But, the other side of the situation is very sad.The status of these employees has been reduced to the level of bonded labourers. They have to accept the low salaries given to them by the government. Should not the government respect the fundamental right of the protestors? We should dig deep to find out the truth behind the strike. 2009 is the 12th year running since the last revision.
The oil officers are getting a gross salary of Rs 1-3 lakh each after the pay revision, in addition to various special allowances and are among the ?privileged sections of society. Such a behaviour is unacceptable,? said a statement from the oil ministry.
This is atrocious lie.Perhaps oil ministry person does not even know how to do simple maths. He should be sent to nursary class to learn mathematics.
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