Being a public holiday, when the demand for fuel remains low, the strike did not impact consumers much. However, if the strike is continued on Sunday, consumers in the Valley could face a sudden crisis.
The workers went on a sudden strike on Saturday, even though they had called off their strike on Friday after Ministry of Labor and Transport Management called them along with the petroleum pump owners for talks. The two sides were scheduled to hold talks on Sunday.
"We were surprised by the way the workers behaved, especially as they had already deferred their strike on Friday and had agreed to settle the issue through talks on Sunday," said Saroj Pandey, president of Nepal Petroleum Dealers´ Association.
He also appealed the workers to return to their works on Sunday and invited their union´s representatives for talks. "We hope this sudden action does not mean they are not willing to sit for talks," he told myrepublica.com, expressing hope that the workers will return to normal operations on Sunday.
The union of petroleum workers have submitted some 17-point charter of demands to their employers, which, among other, asks them to pay minimum wage as set by the government. They have also sought accident and health insurance, clothes and other facilities.
Petrol pump operators say they are positive to the workers´ demands.
Dealers, however, said that petrol pumps outside the valley were operating without any hindrance.
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