INDIAN OIL OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION

(Registered under the trade unions act, 1926)

EXPANDED REGIONAL COMMITTEE, NR
Office of the Regional Secretary
Phones: 011-26522066 (D), 011-26518080 Extn 2095, 011-26521879 (D)
91-9899973901 (M)

Communication No. 40 Dated 23.01.2009

Dear members,

The communication is delayed because of circumstances known to all of us. All the
members exercised their ultimate form of protest and we went on indefinite strike on
the call from OSOA. The genuineness of our demands is demonstrated by the fact
that they were also recommended by Oil PSUs Board Management. However, the
Management has now taken an unprecedented punitive action by terminating the
Services of three and suspending ten Officers, who were the AICEC members of IOOA
for the protest observed by us. The Officers whose Services have been terminated
are the President, General Secretary and Vice President of IOOA and those
suspended are the members of the empowered committee of IOOA office bearers
who are authorized by AICEC to monitor the pay revision issue. Members all over the
country are deeply hurt and are concerned about the welfare of the office bearers of
IOOA against whom the punitive actions have been taken. The moral of Officers
community as a result is at the lowest ebb ever seen. Officers across Divisions and all
over the country have appealed to the management for showing magnanimity and
prudence by withdrawing these unprecedented punitive actions against the thirteen
Officers. Although the morale of Officers has ebbed but the spirit which embodies the
institution of IOOA is still vibrant and hopeful that “Yes we can” succeed because
ultimately truth shall prevail. “Satyamev Jayate” and hope those who had drafted
the advertisement in the print media about our salaries also imbibe the motto or at
least be ashamed of their deceit.

Management was probably compelled to take such a stern punitive action against our
some of the office bearers under duress which is grossly unjust. The strike call was
given by OSOA in which IOOA is also one of the constituent. OSOA is a forum of
Collectives and is rightfully the body which has to negotiate the Wage revision as per
law of the land and accepted norms ILO, Our Corporation is also a signatory to the
Global Compact Initiative wherein the forum of Collectives is encouraged to improve
the compensation of the members by negotiating with the Management. The strike
call was logical and legitimate as it was the ultimate form expressing our resentment
against the delay as well as the quantum of the proposed wage revision being offered
to us. The strike call was unequivocal and supported by each and every member of
the oil PSU as they saw merit in joining the call given by OSOA. It was a mass
movement of responsible and educated citizens and the Office Bearers
were the Icons who represented this mass movement. The punitive actions are
unjust against the Office bearers as they are not the ones who have caused any harm
to the Corporation. They only volunteered to speak for us as a collective, then why
should they be punished for speaking and struggling on our behalf. We hope
and pray that good sense would prevail on our Management and they shall withdraw
the punitive actions at the earliest.

Office bearers against whom punitive action has been taken are also having the same
sense of responsibility to preserve the interest of Corporation like us and probably
more than all of us as they were representing the cause for benefit of the
Corporation. The agitation call for enhancing the salary also had the objective of
retaining and attracting talent for our Corporation in the present scenario wherein
private players are poaching our Human resources.
 INDIAN OIL OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION
(Registered under the trade unions act, 1926)
EXPANDED REGIONAL COMMITTEE, NR
Office of the Regional Secretary
Phones: 011-26522066 (D), 011-26518080 Extn 2095, 011-26521879 (D)
91-9899973901 (M)

Members have generously contributed to IOOA for taking up activities to preserve the
institution of IOOA and meet incidental legal expenses and immediate financial
assistance to the victimized officers. The contribution of members is being diligently
recorded and details will be shared with all members through the audited balance
sheet of IOOA.

On 9.01.2009, our Management filed contempt petition in Hon’ble Delhi High Court
against 5 nos. of IOOA office bearers for violation of Hon’ble High court order. Since,
the notice of court order was not served on us; we were unaware about its legal
implications. However, after hearing the arguments of our counsel, the same was
favorably disposed off by the Hon’ble Court on the first hearing which took place on
16.01.2009.

Many of the AICEC members have demanded an emergency AICEC meeting to

deliberate and plan the future course of action. We understand that Management has
blocked IOOANR mail ID as the same is not functional. If the same has been done to
suppress the communication of IOOA with its members, then we condemn it as the
same is an undemocratic and autocratic action.

Members from all over the country have flooded us with their suggestions and ideas
on various issues before us at the moment which are under active consideration of
the IOOA leadership. We are aware that several members are working selflessly to
explore/mobilize support from various channels through which we can advocate our
just cause and obtain immediate revocation of punitive actions against our office-
bearers. Few sections of media have presented an exaggerated picture of our
salaries after the revision, in the television and print media with a view to malign the
image of PSU Oil Sector Executives. Can we now hope that the Government will
implement the salaries proclaimed in the national newspapers payable to us after
“revision”? We assure the members that the pay revision issue will be followed till its
logical conclusion.

Although, our three day agitation did not yield the desired result, but the same has
brought us closer to each other and the positives that have emerged from this shall
go a long way in shaping the future of IOOA.

We salute all members for their resolve in standing up for a right and just cause as
responsible citizens of a democracy. This exemplary unity and solidarity which has
been displayed by all of us is a matter of pride for all of us. The prime objective which
we have in hand right now is not only to secure relief for our thirteen Officers but to
also to retain the vigour and spirit of IOOA. None of us will rest nor leave any stone
unturned to achieve this GOAL.
Long live IOOA

Regards,

(Mukul Kumar)
Regional Secretary
IOOA, NR