Train services may halt as 1.3-mn railwaymen plan indefinite strike from 11 July
08 Jun 2016
Over 1.3 million railway employees will go on an indefinite strike nationwide from 11 July 2016 to press their demands, media report quoting sources at the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) said.
The union would serve strike notice to the respective general managers of all zones and production units on 9 June for an indefinite strike from 11 July 2016.
The union is demanding a review of the new pension scheme and 7th Pay Commission recommendations, besides filling up of large number of vacant posts in the Railways.
M Raghavaiah, NFIR General Secretary said that response of the central government on the charter of demands submitted in December 2015 has been very disappointing and casual.
"Consequently, the organisations of the central government employees - railways, defence, postal, income-tax, central excise and customs etc whose number is over 3.2 million have taken unanimous decision on 3 June to go on indefinite strike from 11 July," he added.
"In terms of Section (22), sub-section (1) and Rule 71 of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947, the affiliated unions of NFIR representing over 13 lakh Railway employees will be serving strike notice on the GMs of zonal railways and production units," said Raghavaiah.
Demands of the NFIR:
- Improve minimum wage of Rs26,000 and correspondingly improve multiplier factor for pay fixation;
- Scrap New Pension Scheme (NPS) and restore old pension scheme to be made applicable to those employees on and after 1 January 2004;
- Scrap report of Bibek Debroy Committee and implement positive recommendations of High Power Committee;
- Recall FDI notification of Government of India dated 22 August 2014 in construction, operation and maintenance of Indian Railways and scrap all agreements entered into with foreign companies as well as national companies which are detrimental to the interests of the Railways;
- Stop anti-worker amendments of labour laws;
- Ensure parity in pay structure and promotional scope for common categories with those working in the central secretariat;
- Retain existing allowances and advances; and
- Ensure payment of PL bonus at the rate of Rs7,000 per month for the year 2014-15 as was done in October 2008.
They also demand that injustice done to railway employees like technicians, technical supervisors, etc in respect of allotment of 7th CPC pay matrix levels and promotional scope should be done away with and justice administered.