Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010955991300.htm

National

NCOA, BHEL unions threaten strike

Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI: Coming out in support of the striking PSU oil sector officers, the National Confederation of Officers Associations’ (NCOA) and Federation of BHEL Executives’ Associations on Thursday threatened to go on strike if the government did not respond favourably to the demands of the oil sector officers for pay hike.

“The oil sector executives are on strike for a just cause. We support their agitation in principle. We have planned to join the strike if the government does not implement Justice M.J. Rao Committee’s recommendations,” president of the Federation of BHEL Executives’ Associations president, K.S. N. Raju, said in a statement here.

The Federation claims to have around 7,500 members, out of BHEL’s 10,000 executives. The power equipment manufacturing firm has orders worth around Rs.1,40,000 crore.

Mr. Raju said, “We may join the strike after January 10 if the government does not agree to our demands,” he added.

The NCOA of Central public sector undertakings deplored the measures taken by the government against the striking oil sector officers. “It is a shame that instead of resolving the issues, the government is resorting to strong arm tactics. If the government continues with such measures, the National Confederation will be compelled to call for a larger strike in the public sector,” it said in the statement here.

It said the National Confederation proposes to file a complaint with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It demanded that immediate steps should be taken to resolve the issues raised by the agitating oil sector officers, withdrawal of punitive action against the officers and ensure that recommendations made by the Justice Rao Committee are not diluted.