Workers in public sector oil firms will strike work on December 16 against privatisation of oil PSUs, left-aligned Centre of Indian Trade Unions said on Monday.

The decision to go on a day-long strike was taken in the national convention of oil workers held on November 16 at Guwahati under the aegis of National United Forum Against Privatisation of Oil PSUs, CITU said in a press statement in New Delhi.

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The convention, attended by trade union representatives from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Bongaigon Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd, Numaligarh Refinery Ltd, Kochi Refinery Ltd, Oil India Ltd and Gas Authority of Indian Ltd, decided to step up its opposition to government policy of privatisation in state-run oil companies.

Government is seeking to privatise HPCL and BPCL, which together hold 40 per cent of the $15 billion oil market.

CITU said demonstrations will be held at oil company offices throughout the country on December 2, followed by a day long token strike on December 16.

"If the government continues its exercise for privatiation of oil PSUs, the workers will be compelled to go for industry wide indefinite strike," the statement said adding any move to introduce a Bill in Parliament for privatizing HPCL and BPCL would be responded to by immediate 'militant action'.