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Our Bureau

New Delhi, Nov. 27 The Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA), the body of OIL PSU officers, seems to have lost the support of officers of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Engineers India Ltd (EIL) in their call for an indefinite strike from December 2 for higher wages.

It is understood that even the IndianOil Officers Association has written to OSOA to reconsider their call for strike in the wake of Thursday’s tragedy. Incidentally, the Delhi High Court too restrained OSOA, which represents about 55,000 executives of 14 oil PSUs, from going on strike from December 2.

At the time of going to press, OSOA said that it intends to continue with its strike call. And another meeting of OSOA members was scheduled for Saturday in Delhi.

In a joint press conference of all oil PSU chiefs, EIL, Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Mukesh Rohtagi, said “EIL Officers Association (about 2,300 executives) have disassociated themselves from the strike call given by OSOA.”

The HPCL Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Arun Balakrishnan, said that the HPCL association has also disassociated itself from the strike.

Asking the officers to come to the table, Indian Oil Corporation, Chairman, Mr Sarthak Behuria, appealed to OSOA to refrain from the strike “particularly when the nation is going through the worst of terrorist attacks.”

“I hope in view of the great crisis, they will call off their agitation,” he said, adding that “we feel it is a very good package. Besides pay scale there are numerous perks like housing loan, allowances for furniture and computer, expense reimbursements and medical among others. Whatever anomalies are being felt can always be discussed.”

Terming the strike call unjust, the ONGC Chairman and Managing Director, Mr R.S. Sharma, said, “the management will take recourse to unpleasant disciplinary steps if they persist. A large section of even ONGC officers are not in favour of the strike.”

Oil India Ltd (OIL), Chairman and Managing Director, Mr M.R. Pasrija, said officers of his company have assured that operations would not be affected even if OSOA goes ahead with the strike.

More Stories on : Trade & Labour Unions | Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd | PSU

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