National oil companies' officers protest against lowest ever pay hike of 15%

New Delhi: The officers of Indian Oil, along with other Maharatna and Oil PSUs are protesting against the Government of India against the massive cut in the recommendation of 3rd Pay Revision Committee. In the last ten years, only 15 per cent fitment has been given to these professionals hailing from most efficient salaried middle-class, which is the lowest in the history of pay revision. The agitation has commenced with gate meeting during August 28-31 and wearing black badge on 5th Sep 2017, followed by massive dharna by the Office bearers of Officers Associations of Oil industry majors and Maharatna CPSEs at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday.

There is a warren of complex operations ranging from sourcing crude, refining, transporting, storing, distributing that ensures that one litre of fuel at our doorstep. The force behind these intricate logistics, that is the Officers toiling across tough terrains and topographies-in deserts, mountains, plans, islands, wherever people need precious petroleum fuels, apart from giving huge revenue to exchequer, are now fighting a lone battle.

A number of genuine demands have received favourable support from many significant Government quarters, but the resolution is nowhere. Mr Alok K Roy, President, IndianOil Officer Association, representing the largest commercial Oil PSU in the country, said, "While the cafeteria allowance has been curtailed from 50% to 35% along with meagre figment of only 15% after one decade and while considering the eco situation, we are still going with it but other genuine demands need to be seriously reviewed and reconsidered. We have been waiting for Pay Revision for last so many years while struggling for substantial pay erosion during high inflation era of last decade. This is neither a protest nor an agitation. This is the humble voice of employees serving the Nation. We are and will remain committed to build a New-India as per dream of Hon'ble Prime Minister", he added.

Since one year, the officers have made very comprehensive representations, duly supported by facts and figures, to all the significant stakeholders starting from the 3rd Pay Revision Committee, Cabinet Secretary, DPE Secretary, Ministers of DPE, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Steel, SME, Surface Transport, Tourism. Letters has also been written to the Honourable PM of India requesting his intervention. Everyone has sympathised with the legitimacy and fairness of the demands, but no one is actually coming forward to fulfil them. They have placed their confidence that hon'ble Prime Minster would intervene to resolve as their demands are modest and genuine.

Mr. Roy added that the oil business has never been driven by economic considerations alone. Marketing initiatives in rural, hilly and inaccessible areas, its community welfare programmes across the country and support and succour to affected people in times of natural calamities have won IndianOil warm appreciation time and again.

"Our people have never backed out of hardships and in instances like natural calamities in Kashmir and Uttarakhand floods, we have served like foot soldiers for rehabilitation, and it is time for concerned authorities to give us our rightful due."