Oil sector strike called off

New Delhi August 21, 2007

The Oil Sector Officers' Association (OSOA), the 45,000-strong
organisation of public sector oil firms, has called off their
indefinite strike that began today morning claiming that the petroleum
ministry has accepted its demands.

"We have asked all the 45,000 officers associated to OSOA to report
back to work," said Sanjay Goel, president of officers union in Oil
and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

OSOA representatives said the ministry agreed to their demand for
giving an interim relief of Rs 60,000-1,20,000 per employee for the
period from January 1, 2007 when wage revisions were due.

The major demands of OSOA included salary revision and release of ad-
hoc payment.

OSOA had earlier planned to go on strike in September last year but
called it off after intervention and assurances by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh.

The oil companies had yesterday informed that they were ready with
contigency plans to counter the strike call.

The strike call was the culmination of a series of agitational
measures initiated by OSOA over the last one year. It had organised
gate meetings from August 6, black badge protests while at work from
August 13, and threated to go on indefinite strike starts from August
21 onwards if demands are not met.