New Delhi: The management of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has issued a warning to its employees against participating in the upcoming strike on September 7 and 8, saying that apart from penal action, participation in the strike may place their approved VRS applications under review again. According to an internal mail sent to BPCL employees by the HR department, which has been reviewed by PSU Watch, the management has told the employees, "It is hoped that wiser counsel would prevail, and workmen would maintain full normalcy in our business activities and not take recourse to direct action or any other form of agitation…"
The strike comes as trade unions at BPCL have issued a nationwide strike call against the LTS settlement offered to them by the management. The unions have claimed that the offer is an eyewash because of a clause that makes way for the new strategic owner of BPCL (after privatisation) to amend/revoke/modify the terms agreed to and offered by the current management in the settlement.
In the mail accessed by PSU Watch, the BPCL management has said that employees whose applications for voluntary retirement have been accepted and those whose applications are currently under scrutiny, "…the management may review its decision besides imposition of penal actions as stated above…"
The internal communication has also told employees that participation in strike will make them liable for wage cuts on the principle of "No work, no pay." Additionally, in view of the "illegality" of the strike, employees will be liable for penal deduction of wages up to eight days for each day they are on strike. The management has contended that since the matter of LTS settlement is pending before a conciliation officer, holding a strike during this period will be illegal under Section 22 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
In a separate mail sent to the management of the Kochi and Mumbai refinery, BPCL has asked them to ensure attendance from employees whose VRS applications have been sanctioned and who are currently serving notice period. '…Please advise them to refrain from any absence on 7th and 8th September'2020 due to Strike and they are mandatorily required to report for work…," said the mail.
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