E-Paper
99 pc railmen vote for strike
NORTH EASTERN Railway Mazdoor Union (NERMU) secretary KL Gupta claimed that 99 per cent railway employees voted in favour of a proposed indefinite strike slated for February. Constitution of the Sixth Pay Commission is one of their main demands.
NORTH EASTERN Railway Mazdoor Union (NERMU) secretary KL Gupta claimed that 99 per cent railway employees voted in favour of a proposed indefinite strike slated for February. Constitution of the Sixth Pay Commission is one of their main demands.
He claimed that a large number of employees participated in voting in all three divisions of NE Railway.
Talking to mediapersons, Gupta said four dozen mobile teams were pressed into service to conduct the exercise at various railway stations and railway offices from January 3 to 8.
Gupta claimed participation of employees in voting had boosted the morale of employees’ unions and said the proposed strike could be a historic one.
Railway employees can go on strike only if a majority of them favour it.
According to reports, 99.29 per cent employees in all three divisions of NER favoured the proposed strike.
Gupta said he would inform the central unit of the All India Railwaymen Federation about the voting percentage on January 10. The date of indefinite strike will be finalised at a proposed meeting of the federation on January 15.
Giving details of voting in Gorakhpur headquarters, he said 12,145 votes were cast out of which 12,009 employees favoured the strike. In Varanasi division, 7,029 votes were cast out of which 6,990 employees favoured the strike.
In Lucknow division, 12,030 votes were cast out of which 11,823 favoured the strike.
In Izzatnagar division, 9,306 out of 9,427 votes were in favour of the strike. He said a meeting had been convened in Delhi on January 15 to discuss the future course of action.
Gupta said railway employees were demanding constitution of the Sixth Pay Commission. They also wanted revival of recommendation of the running allowance committee, along with withdrawal of the New Pension Scheme. They also sought stopping of the process to invite private players to the railway sector. He expressed concern over the fact that on the one hand, unemployment was rising and on the other hand, the government was surrendering posts.
He said railway employees could call for a chakka jam and hit the streets if the Union Government continues to ignore genuine demands of employees.
