Railway employees who are the members of All-India Loco Running Staff Association and All-India Guard Council staged a protest at the loco shed here on Friday to demand the government to meet their demands which, they claimed, have been pending for five years now.
All India Loco Running Staff Association secretary (Ferozepur division) Paramjit Singh said they had organised a divisional-level protest. He said that around 17,000 posts, including that of drivers, guards and class-four employees, had been vacant for more then a decade. “Because of the vacant posts, other employees have to work overtime,” he said.

“The stag shortage also leads to train accidents. These employees need to be paid more salaries. Besides, the government should reduce work stress by hiring more employees,” he said.

He pointed to medical reasons too. “Doctors such that long working hours have a domino effect on efficiency. Reduced work stress will only ensure the safety of passengers,” he added.

At present, Paramjit Singh said, railway employees were working for 15 to 17 hours at a stretch.

He said that the railways should fill the vacant posts.

They had submitted a memorandum to senior section engineer Des Raj Vishal, he added.