Angry NERMU members take to streets

MEMBERS OF the North-Eastern Railway Mazdoor Union and other labour organisations hit the streets on Tuesday and staged a demonstration at the general manager, NE, railway office. They burnt an effigy of the GM, NER, at the Court Crossing. They demanded the screening process for recruitment of former casual labour should be started. Secretary, NERMU, KL Gupta said the Railway Board had issued an order to start the recruitment of former casual labour who were engaged during conversion of the gauge.

MEMBERS OF the North-Eastern Railway Mazdoor Union and other labour organisations hit the streets on Tuesday and staged a demonstration at the general manager, NE, railway office.

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They burnt an effigy of the GM, NER, at the Court Crossing. They demanded the screening process for recruitment of former casual labour should be started.

Secretary, NERMU, KL Gupta said the Railway Board had issued an order to start the recruitment of former casual labour who were engaged during conversion of the gauge. However, since 1999, successive NER general managers had not taken any initiative for the recruitment of casual labour. He said on February 23 the union had handed over a memorandum to the GM on the issue.

Gupta said aggrieved by the apathetic attitude of railway officials, casual labour had taken out a procession on Tuesday. Gupta claimed posts in Group D were vacant but the lackadaisical attitude of the GM NER on this issue had caused resentment among the labour. He claimed chairman of the Railway Board JP Batra was well acquainted with the problems and he should have taken effective steps to restart the screening process.

Secretary of Board Gauge Employees’ Association Ravindra Srivastav said the situation was serious. They demanded the screening process should be initiated.