The Hindu : Front Page : Centre talks tough, terms oil strike illegal

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Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009
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Centre talks tough, terms oil strike illegal

Special Correspondent

Employees warned of strong action, including suspensions
“Their salaries are even higher than judges’ salaries”

— Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma

Trucks stand idle at the Azadpur Subzi Mandi in New Delhi on Monday during the nationwide strike by the All-India Motor Transport Congress following failure of their talks with the government.

NEW DELHI: The Union government on Monday termed the proposed strike by the Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA) from January 7 illegal and asked the States to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and the National Security Act (NSA) to deal with the strike and any situation arising from it.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary R.S. Pandey said the oil marketing companies (OMCs) had drawn up contingency plans, including putting the Territorial Army on alert, to deal with the situation. He urged the OSOA not to go ahead with the strike. The country was going through difficult times and any kind of provocative action would cause enormous difficulties to all sections of society and result in colossal loss to the economy.

Mr. Pandey said a number of High Courts had declared strike illegal and the OMCs had moved the courts concerned to initiate contempt of court proceedings against those going on strike.

Addressing a press conference here along with heads of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), he warned that strong action, including suspensions, would be taken against those going on strike.

“It is unfortunate that some elements are trying to worsen the situation and create a crisis. We are fully prepared to deal with any kind of crisis. Home Minister P. Chidambaram had agreed to meet the OSOA delegation on January 7 and the final report will be out within 30 days’ time. There is no reason for them to go on strike. We have already asked the States to take necessary action, including invoking the ESMA and the NSA,” he said.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora said he had invited the agitating leaders for talks but they refused to come. “I once again appeal to them to sit across the table as the matter is being considered by the Prime Minister and Mr. Chidambaram. They should wait for the outcome of the inter-Ministerial group report before taking such drastic action,” he added.

Mr. Pandey said that after the recent revision of pay scales, salaries of the oil sector executives were even higher than those of the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.

The Delhi High Court had stayed a strike in any of the three oil marketing companies — IOC, BPCL and HPCL — while a similar stay is being sought by GAIL and ONGC.

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