Resolutions passed in the AIRF Working Committee Meeting held at Madgaon(Konkan Railway) on 13-14, February, 2017
Enclosed please find herewith a copy of the resolutions, unanimously passed by the AIRF Working Committee Meeting, held at Madgaon (Konkan Railway) on 13-14 February, 2017.
We earnestly hope that, due consideration would be given on the same, and the legitimate demands of the Railwaymen would be addressed favouraly by the Railway Board.
No.AIRF/89 Dated: February 20, 2017
The Chairman,
Railway Board,
New Delhi
Dear Sir,
Sub: Resolutions passed in the AIRF Working Committe Meeting held at Madgaon(Konkan Railway) on 13-14, February, 2017
Enclosed please find herewith a copy of the resolutions, unanimously passed by the AIRF Working Committee Meeting, held at Madgaon (Konkan Railway) on 13-14 February, 2017.
We earnestly hope that, due consideration would be given on the same, and the legitimate demands of the Railwaymen would be addressed favouraly by the Railway Board.
RESOLUTION NO.1 – CHARTER OF DEMANDS
The Working Committee meeting of All India Railwaymen’s Federation(AIRF), held at Madgoan(Konkan Railway) on 13th and 14th February, 2017, notes with regret that, the assurances held out by the Group of Ministers, appointed for the purpose of having negotiated settlement with the Staff Side/NC-JCM and the Government of India on the Charter of Demands, which has resulted in postponement of the Indefinite Strike, which was scheduled to be launched from 06.00 hours of 11th July, 2016, for a period of four months, has not yet been fructified.
The Group of Ministers, headed by Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon’ble Home Minister, had assured the delegation of the Staff Side/NC-JCM on 29th June, 2016 and 6th July, 2016 that, different committees would be formed by the Government to decide the issues of Allowances, Re-fixation of Minimum Wages and Pay Fixation Matrix, Pension and New Pension Scheme. It was also assured that, the committees, so appointed, would decide the issues after discussion with the Staff Side/NC-JCM within a period of four months.
Different committees have been appointed by the Government, discussions were also held with the Staff Side/NC-JCM, but the issues are yet to be resolved. The grievances related to specific departments were also assured to be decided by the particular department in consultation with the Recognized Union/Federation. But these issues are also yet to be resolved, including positive recommendations of the 7th CPC in respect of revision of pay scales and granting of allowances to specific categories.
This has caused widespread discontentment amongst the Railwaymen, therefore, Working Committee strongly demands that, the following issues should be resolved without any further delay so as to ensure industrial peace in the Indian Railways.
- Re-fixation of Minimum Wage at Rs.26,000 and revision of Pay Fixation Matrix.
- Grant all the allowances and advances, as demanded by Staff Side/NC-JCM.
- Scrap New Pension Scheme(now called National Pension System) and grant Pension and Family Pension to all the Railwaymen and other Central Government employees, irrespective of their date of appointment.
- Implement all the positive recommendations of the 7th CPC in respect of pay sales and allowances to the specific categories.
- Revise Pay Fixation Formula, rates of Running Allowance and all other allowances now admissible to Loco and Traffic Running Staff and extend Additional Pay to all the categories of Loco and Traffic Running Staff.
- Settle all the outstanding grievances as embodied in the Strike Charter.
RESOLUTION NO.2 – ATTACK ON THE TRADE UNIONS
On 30th January, 2017, Railway Board have issued orders that, the Supervisors working in Safety Categories, having Grade Pay of Rs.4200 and above(in 6th CPC terms), can become a member of the union, but cannot hold any post of the office-bearers of any recognized union, so that, they could devote their undivided attention to their railway working.
As per provisions of the Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926, no member of a union can be deprived of his right to become an office-bearer of the union. By the instant order of the Railway Board, not only this is an attack on the trade unionism, but also denied the right of an individual to become an office-bearer of a recognized union, even duly elected.
There may be some accidents due to human failure, but according to best of our information, no accident is caused due to negligence of the Supervisors who are union officials. As such, this is an attempt to brandish all the Supervisory Staff, operating the train services, as negligent in their duties without specifying a single instance of dereliction of their duty in any area of their deployment. It amounts to indirect condemnation of their otherwise dedicated/devoted service to the Railways, which each one of them revere as their own department, which facilitate not only their bread and butter, but also help in grooming their wards/families. How can anyone remotely be blamed to be jeopardizing the functional safety of the running trains, which is an inseparable part of the Railwaymen, including the Supervisors.
The Working Committee Meeting of AIRF, held at Madgoan(Konkan Railway) on 13th and 14th February, 2017, registers its strongest protest on the attack on the trade unions by the Railway Board and the Ministry of Railways and demand for immediate withdrawal of Railway Board’s orders dated 30.01.2017 and allow full rights to the member of a trade union as guaranteed under the relevant statute.
RESOLUTION NO.3 – MERGER OF THE KONKAN RAILWAY WITH THE INDIAN RAILWAYS
This Working Committee Meeting of All India Railwaymen’s Federation(AIRF), held at Madgaon(Konkan Railway) on 13th and 14th February, 2017, reiterates the resolution, unanimously passed by the 92nd Annual Conference of AIRF at Jodhpur in October 2015 and further persuaded the same with the Ministry of Railways, for merger of the Konkan Railway with the Indian Railways for all-out development of the areas served by the Konkan Railway and the Railwaymen working in the Konkan Railway.
