The Hindu : HPCL, BPCL staff strike continues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

HPCL, BPCL staff strike continues

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI MARCH 27. The strike called by various trade unions at the Kochi Refineries Limited (KRL), the Bharat Petroleum Corporation and the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation continued for the third day today even as several petroleum retail outlets in the city have reported fuel scarcity.

A spokesman for the trade unions at the petroleum companies said that there was no movement of petroleum products today.

On the other hand, a spokesman for KRL today said that there was more than 80 per cent attendance at the refinery and that only workers belonging to one trade union did not show up for duty today.

He also said that between Wednesday and Thursday, nearly 200 loads of LPG had been dispatched from the refinery and that on Thursday nearly 80 lorries had left the KRL premises with LPG loads.

The trade unions at the public sector oil companies are demanding a rollback on the Centre's move to privatise these companies.

Workers at KRL are also demanding that the refinery be merged with a public sector oil company like the Indian Oil Company or the Oil and Natural Gas Commission.

The trade unions at KRL have expressed dismay that BPCL which had acquired KRL was showing no interest in the refinery and they alleged that BPCL might as well hive off the refinery in the near future.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the oil company trade unions on strike said that supply to retail fuel outlets would be back on stream once the strike ended tonight.

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