Officers of public sector oil companies have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from August 21 if their demand for higher salaries was not met.

The Oil Sector Officers' Association (OSOA), claiming membership of 45,000 officers of oil PSUs, has served a strike notice to the petroleum ministry and company managements.

"The association is agitated on inordinate delay and resolution of the various pending issues such as periodicity of salary revision, 50 per cent merger of Dearness Allowance with the Basic Pay as on January 1, 2005 and release of ad hoc payment towards salary revision," an OSOA press release said.

OSOA was to go on strike from September 5 last year but the agitation was called off following an assurance from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to look into their demands.

"The officers are highly agitated in view of the indifferent attitude of the ministry and oil PSU managements," it said. OSOA said there was an urgent need for upward revision of salary and compensation for oil PSUs to check exodus of talented people to private sector.

"The oil PSUs wage is the lowest in the country - less than one per cent of the total turnover - whereas the same is as high as 7-8 per cent in the private sector," OSOA said.

OSOA constituents (unions in respective oil firms) will hold gate meeting from August 6, wear black badges and resort to work to rule from August 13. If the demands are not met 'indefinite strike starts from 0600 hours on August 21.'