New Delhi: Hundreds of thousands of officers from central Public Sector Units, including 13 from the oil sector, took to the streets on Tuesday to press for their long-standing demands.
The officers have also threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike from December 22 if their demands are not met with by December 21.
They are demanding merger of 50 per cent DA with the basic pay with effect from January 1, 2005 as done for the Central Government employees, removal of monetary ceiling on payment of gratuity, release of lump sum ad hoc pending discussion with next pay panel and removal of 50 per cent ceiling on allowances.
Officers from ONGC, IOC, BPCL, HPCL, OIL, Coal and Steel sector, Power sector and the Communication Sector participated in the protest march, held under the aegis of Coordination Committee of Officers' Association of CPSUs.
''Our demands are legitimate and despite promises from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh they are not being met,'' Association Secretary General Rakesh Pandey said.
He said the PSUs periodicity had been increased to ten years on the ground that the revision of Central Government takes place after ten years.
''The merger of 50 per cent DA with the basic pay is being unnecessarily delayed by the Government despite the fact that there is no burden on the country's revenue expenditure,'' he added.
Pandey said the PSUs are being used as ''training ground'' with a huge investment on fresh recruits.
''In view of the sky rocketing salary and compensation in the private sector, it is now important for the PSUs to attract and retain talent,'' he added.
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