"Today It Is BPCL, Tomorrow It Could Be Us," Say Protesting Mangalore Refinery Workers

Thousands of employees across India are protesting against the planned privatisation of state-owned refiner Bharat Petroleum, fearing job losses and benefits on Thursday, November 28.

Unions of several state-run companies such as Hindustan Petroleum and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL) also joined BPCL workers’ protest on Thursday.

In Kochi, protesters tried to block the passage of BPCL management arriving at work before police cleared their way into the refinery. A similar protest happened some 400 km away in Mangalore, where the workers blocked the gates of MRPL refinery.

“Today it is BPCL, tomorrow it could be us,” Sudhendu K.V., employee union president at MRPL told the media.

Employees at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)Kochi refinery will face a reduction in various benefits and also result in job cuts. “The government should notice our agitation, as should private players looking to take over BPCL,” Aji M.G., general secretary of the Kochi refinery’s workers association said.

BPCL employees on Thursday staged a protest in Mumbai suburbs against the central government’s decision to privatise the state-owned entity by selling its 53.29 per cent stake in the company. A BPCL spokesman said operations at its Kochi refinery were running smoothly despite the protests.

Employee unions have given a notice to the company, adding that efforts are being made to ensure a normal run of refineries and marketing locations.

Credit rating agency Moody’s, on Tuesday, said it was reviewing BPCL’s ‘Baa2’ rating for possible downgrade due to the government sale.

This is the second attempt to privatise the PSU under BJP rule. A similar attempt by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was thwarted in 2003 by the Supreme Court.

Also Read: Air India, BPCL To Be Sold By March 2020: FM Nirmala Sitharaman