Industry & Economy
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Petroleum
Oil workers threaten `indefinite' strike
Our Bureau
Mumbai
,
Dec. 16
EMPLOYEES of public sector oil companies went on a 24-hour strike on Tuesday to protest the Government's disinvestment plans. Unions threatened to go on an "indefinite" strike, if the Centre went ahead with its plan to privatise HPCL and BPCL for "raising funds to meet the fiscal deficit."
"Over 1.5 lakh employees affiliated to 76 unions today struck work," said Mr C.S. Dalvi, President, All India Petroleum Workers' Union.
The unions have formed a joint "National United Forum" to oppose privatisation. The forum includes trade unions from HPCL, BPCL, ONGC, IOC, Oil India and Bongaigaon Refinery.
Work at most refineries including Indian Oil, BPCL, HPCL and installations of ONGC and Oil India was marginally affected though work at offices went on as usual, according to union representatives.
The HPCL spokesperson said all operations were normal and production remained unaffected. According to a BPCL official however, work at the Trombay refinery was "marginally affected."
"Except for Indian Oil and ONGC units in the western region, workers across the country responded to the strike call," Mr Dalvi said.
The Union Labour Minister, Mr Sahib Singh Verma, earlier met the workers to persuade them to call off the strike.
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