ONGC mgmt disbands ASTO for Jan strike

ONGC’s top management has decided to derecognize the Association of Scientific and Technical Officers (ASTO) with immediate effect for their alleged role in the two-day strike in January.

ONGC suffered immensely both in production and esteem due to reckless and very irresponsible illegal strike led by the current leadership of ASTO during January 7-9, said sources close to the development.

An ONGC spokesperson declined to make any comment on the development however a senior official confirmed the development while refusing to give any details.

“Despite the persuasion by management, the ASTO leadership led an agitation which was detrimental to the interest of officers, ONGC and the nation. It (ASTO) breached the law in such a manner that it warranted intervention of National Crisis Management Team. The management has therefore decided to derecognize ASTO with immediate effect,” sources in the know of the development said.

A new Officers Association is likely to be formed which will be constituted on the basis of code of conduct the management has put up in its internal website. The code of conduct among other things has barred the officers to go in for strike or any such movement in future even if the situation so demands.

“ASTO being the only elected body of the technical and non-technical officers, the dismantling means that they will have no representation in any meeting of the management in future. ASTO has been formed right from the inception of ONGC. This has far reaching implications on the pay revision of all the officers that has been pending from 2007 January for which ASTO had gone on strike following the failure of talks with management and ministry,” said a ASTO member.