A day's strike was planned for Friday, followed by indefinite closure from October 27, if talks failed.
The nation-wide petrol-pump strike has been called off after Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) were able to arm-twist their way by threatening dealership termination of association leaders and arrest of other fuel outlet owners, apart from inspection visits and show-cause notices to various outlets.
A day's strike was planned for Friday, followed by indefinite closure from October 27, if talks failed.
Ever since the strike-call was issued, OMCs have utilised multiple measures to pressurise pump dealers. During this week, inspectors visited several outlets to check payment of staff wages.
"We all got show cause notices for no fault of ours," said a Mumbai-based dealer. "We have been giving salaries as per the Labour Act, but the OMCs want us to pay as per their own notified wages."
Pan India, there are around 56,000 dealers divided into three associations — The Federation of All India Petroleum Traders (FAIPT), The All India Petroleum Dealers Association (AIPDA) and Consortium of Indian Petroleum Dealers (CIPD). They come under an umbrella body titled United Petroleum Front (UPF).
These bodies have around 27 association leaders at various posts; almost all were threatened with termination notices — the association leaders were informed that if they don't withdraw the strike, dealership termination notices will be sent immediately. If they would have gone ahead with the planned strike, in addition to the termination notices, they would have got arrested under the Essential Commodities Act.
"Those having pumps don't have any other income source, terminating dealership means discontinuing the sole income for not only the family, but also for the staff," said another dealer.
In the past, dealers have adhered to 'not take supply' policy to press for their demands. On this occasion, the OMCs either reduced or temporarily suspended petrol and diesel supply till the time the stir was withdrawn.
However, dealers still fear "harassment" by OMCs in the days to come, in some form or the other — either by penalty or suspension of supply or terminating dealership.
The strike demand came in after Marketing Discipline Guidelines was amended by the OMCs on October 2, which gives them powers to impose a penalty of up to Rs 2 lakh and suspension of dealership in case toilets aren't found clean, minimum wages (as per OMC wages) aren't paid to the staff, if outlets are found indulging in deliberate malpractices with respect to machinery, etc.
"All the three constituents of the UPF having called off the proposed all-India strike planned for October 13 and 27. This was conveyed to the OMCs through written statements, underlining their decision to this effect," read a statement by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.
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