KOCHI: Activities of the BPCL at Ambalamugal came to a standstill due to a 48-hour strike called by General and Construction Workers’ Union (CITU) and General Workers’ Congress (INTUC) on Wednesday.
The unions were on strike demanding higher wages for contract employees. “The last contract, signed three years ago, ended in September. The BPCL management was not ready to increase the wages as was decided then,” N K George of CITU said.
The management said BPCL’s work was affected adversely by the strike. “The refinery is in the last stages of the Integrated Refinery Expansion Project. The strike has affected the project,” said an officer at BPCL.
He said the workers went on strike as the management took exception to a “ratio system” followed by the unions. “If a new contract worker is appointed by us, one each recommended by CITU and INTUC should also be appointed (in the ratio of 1:1:1). This system is not acceptable to us,” he said.
However, George said the ratio system was not being followed anymore.