Chennai, June 27: The public sector undertaking Madras Refineries Ltd (MRL) has decided to adopt a wait and watch attitude towards the ongoing labour agitation at its Manali refinery, near the city.

The management, claiming that production has not been affected, appears to be undaunted by the three-day old strike in which around 800 members of the Madras Refineries Employees Union are participating, as the majority of the refinery operations are automated. Moreover, the return of nine members belonging to the union to work worked like a shot in the arm for the management.

The claim, however, was contradicted by the union office-bearers as they said: ``Three members of our union went back to work on Tuesday (when the strike was called). No one else joined joined duties after that''.

While acknowledging that no appreciable development took place on Friday to resolve the stalemate, officials were buoyant about the return of other employees of the union shortly. According to available information, another round of talks were not held today, following the failure of the one on Thursday.

To a question on whether the strike had been declared illegal, official sources said there was no question of such a declaration as the union was yet to issue a strike notice. The regional labour commissioner, joint labour commissioner, the ministry of petroleum and natural gas have already been informed about the situation.

Interestingly, a company press note, issued late night on Thursday said, ``the company has advised them (workers) that their action is unauthorised and illegal and has appealed to them to resume their regular functions immediately.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.