BPCL contract tanker drivers launch flash strike in Kerala

Over 250 gasoline tank drivers contracted by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) for supplying gasoline throughout Kerala have gone on a flash strike, refusing to load gasoline from the corporate’s Irumbanam plant on Monday. They are demanding speedy implementation of beneficial phrases.

At current, solely transporters engaged instantly by sellers are filling gasoline on the plant. The protesting drivers will not be affiliated with any commerce union. The preliminary spherical of discussions with BPCL representatives ended inconclusively. Drivers have submitted a 17-point constitution of calls for, which firm sources mentioned is into account to resolve the stalemate.

“Fuel filling on the plant has not been affected as sellers are taking supply. Only contracted transporters are on strike,” firm sources mentioned.

Demands

Among the calls for raised by the drivers are issuing payments for filling earlier than 3 p.m. and finishing billing earlier than 5 p.m., together with resolving current points associated to delays. “We report on the plant at 6 a.m. to take gasoline hundreds. Thereafter, we’re made to attend for hours earlier than the load is stuffed within the night. We then must drive in a single day to ship the availability with out ample relaxation, which is harmful contemplating the extremely hazardous cargo we transport. The identical routine repeats the subsequent day after we report within the morning,” mentioned driver Fazak Pookkoya Thangal.

The drivers additionally demand an finish to alleged impolite behaviour by safety guards and workplace employees. They need preparations to make sure deliveries nearer to their houses on Saturdays. Drivers ought to be allowed to help in filling if there’s a employees scarcity within the part. Delays in issuing invoices ought to be averted, they mentioned.

They additional insist there ought to be no discrimination between tankers operated by sellers and people contracted. The follow of filling on Sundays to compensate for public holidays ought to be stopped. Deliveries ought to be assigned in a method that ensures that every one transporters cowl related distances since pay relies on kilometres travelled. Resting services ought to be supplied on the parking zone, with safety guards deployed if crucial, based on the constitution of calls for.