Talk to us to avoid another strike, say irked motormen

City’s motormen have asked the Fast Track Committee formed by the railway board to give them an audience to express their views and offer solutions to avoid another strike on June 15.

City’s motormen have asked the Fast Track Committee formed by the railway board to give them an audience to express their views and offer solutions to avoid another strike on June 15.

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They have also said that the administration can help them by adjusting their duty timings so that they can de-stress themselves by indulging in extra curricular activities such as yoga, sports and social work.

“The committee should meet us and hear our grievances for an amicable solution to avoid a repeat of the strike,” a WR motorman said.

“If the railways do not adjust our shifts, many of the motormen who are known to be involved in extra curricular activities will not be able to continue them. The management philosophy tells that such creative activities have positive impact over professional performance,” a letter from the Motormen’s Joint Action Forum stated.

“The administration should also support the motormen in celebrating national and regional festivals. The Motormen Social and Welfare Association organises a family get-together every year and group picnics. These efforts, useful in de-stressing the motormen, will be curbed in the absence of flexibility in duty timings,” it added.

“A number of informal groups such as the Guard- Motormen Ramayan Mandal, that consists of guards and motormen organising short-term religious programmes, will also be affected if the administration remains rigid,” it said.

Motormen on Mumbai’s suburban trains went on a two-day strike on May 3, paralysing the transport system. Home Minister R.R. Patil had said that the railway administration would get back to them by June 15.