Railway Strike: Feedback by AIRF on the meeting with the Member Staff, Railway Board

A.I.R.F.

All India Railwaymen’s Federation

No.AIRF/24(C) 

Dated: December 13, 2013 

The General Secretaries, 

All Affiliated Unions, 

Dear Coms., 

Ref: Strike Ballot 

The Member Staff, Railway Board, invited us called me for an meeting today at 15:00 hrs. on the above- noted subject. 

During course of meeting, I explained him all the circumstances under which AIRF was forced to take the decision of Strike Ballot. 

I also explained him that, due to non-redressal of genuine long-pending demands of the Railwaymen, like removal of anomalies(Running Staff grievances, merger of Technician II with Technician I, GP Rs.4800 to all the Supervisory Staff, abolition of GP Rs.2000 for the purpose of MACP Scheme), non-implementation of unanimously agreed decisions of the Railway Board – unanimous recommendations of Jt. Committee on Trackmen, regularization of railway accommodation in favour of wards of railway employees recruited under LARSGESS, extension of LARSGESS to the staff working TRD, Bridge and Power departments, cadre restructuring without matching savings, absorption of quasi-administrative offices staff in the Railways, parity in the case of Stenographers working in the field as well as Zonal Railways and Production Units, creation of additional posts in commensurate with increase in the number of trains and workload, stopping of outsourcing of perennial nature jobs, violating the provision of Contract Labour, etc. etc. Similarly, judgements of various courts, in regard to MACP in hierarchical grade, Accounts Staff and Stenographers, reckoning of 100% Casual Labour Service rendered as Qualifying Service for seniority and pensionary benefits, have not being implemented. On the one hand, Railways are said to be the second line of defence, but the Ministry of Railways have not done any effort to pursue the matter with the Government of India to bring all the Railwaymen in Old Pension Scheme, as has been done by the Home Ministry in regard to Defence Staff. 

I explained to the MS, AM (S) and ED(IR), Railway Board, present in the meeting, that though we had all along advised the Railway Board, right from top to bottom, every decision of the General Council as well as 88th Annual Convention of the AIRF, and also in between no positive steps have been taken by the Railway Board in regard to Resolution of Charter of Demands submitted by the AIRF to the Railway Board, and that is the reason, our Patna 89th Convention of AIRF also put its seal on Strike Ballot(20-21 December, 2013) decision of the General Council of the AIRF as well as 88th Annual Convention of the AIRF. 

Though the Member Staff requested for deferment of date of strike ballot, I told him very clearly that now it is 

too late, and until there are some visible action from the Ministry of Railways and Government of India is taken, we would not be able to defer our strike ballot decision, decided by our General Council and Annual Convention. 

In regard to continuation of dialogue, I explained that I would inform the Railway Board about the date, only after consulting the President/AIRF. 

In the meeting issue of brutal killing of Late Sh. Sanjeeva Rao/TTE/SCR was also raised. I stressed upon the Member Staff to extend all resources so that relief to the bereaved family could be given at the earliest. I also apprised the MS about the anguish and concern of Railwaymen about this incident. Further emphasis was given to provide security for staff to avoid recurrence of such sorrow and painful incidents. 

Com. Mukesh Galav, General Secretary/WCREU and AGS/AIRF was also present during the course of meeting. 

The above is for your information, and the latest update on the subject. 

All of you are requested to take strike ballot as seriously as had been taken in the General Council and Annual Convention of the AIRF and motivate the Railwaymen that, why we have been forced to go for strike ballot. 

Yours fraternally,

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

General Secretary

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