NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDIAN RAILWAYMEN (NFIR) Union Workers threaten strike

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDIAN RAILWAYMEN (NFIR) Union Workers threaten strike

NFIR Unions workers threaten strike

Want Appointment of 7th Pay Panel

Shri Som Nath Malik, Press Secretary/NFIR gave following action plan of NFIR as announced by Shri M.Raghavaiah, General Secretary/NFIR in the recently held meetings of the Federation, while addressing various Press Conferences at New Delhi.

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) has threatened to go on strike it its long-pending demands are not. NFIR has also decided to hold a Secret Ballot among members after four months on whether they should go on strike or not.

Shri M.Raghavaiah, General Secretary/NFIR said that the Steering Committee recently held in Mumbai and decided to go on strike if their demands were not met. He further said that their demands include appointment of the Seventh Pay Commission because Dearness Allowance was already 80% of the basic pay and inflation was galloping.

He further said that there was need for Cadre Restructuring of Railwaymen for due promotion of three lakh employees. The Railway Minister is in consultation with the Finance Ministry and has already formed a Committee for Cadre Restructuring, M.Raghavaiah said.

 

He demanded entry grade of Rs.4200/- for Station Master and the abolition of the New Pension Scheme. The Union leader further said that the Railway Ministry should rectify the anomalies which are harming the Operating Staff and Trackmen. Shri M.Raghavaiah also demanded that the Ministry should enhance fixed medical allowance from Rs.300 to Rs.1000 for pensioners.

Shri M.Raghavaiah/General Secretary, NFIR demanded that the anomalies arising out of 6th Central Pay Commission report, MACPS anomalies remained unresolved despite negotiations and assurances. The demand of Central Government employees as well as Railway Men and Women for setting up of 7th Central Pay Commission, abolition of New Pension Scheme for ensuring Guaranteed pension besides DA merger, have not been considered positively yet. There is urgent need to appoint 7th Central Pay Commission for not only resolving the aberrations of previous pay commissions but also for revising the wages and allowances of Central Government employees.

NFIR working committee and Steering Committee having taken stock of the situation has decided to give a time of four months to the Government for satisfactorily settling the demands and equally announcing the appointment of VIIth Central Pay Commission failing which the NFIR will be compelled to give call for ‘Indefinite Strike’ on Railways. The Government is aware that the Railway employees perform duties round the clock against all odds to serve the customer. It is disappointing to convey that despite best efforts of NFIR to resolve the issues through negotiations, there has been no proper response from the Government.

After discussion, it was decided to give four months time to the Government to announce appointment of VIIth Central Pay Commission and settle pending issues through negotiated settlement, failing which the NFIR would take steps for launching indefinite strike on Indian Railways.

Press Secretary/NFIR, S.N.Malik also informed that the NFIR had raised the following important items before the Railway Board recently.

IMPORTANT ITEMS RAISED BY NFIR BEFORE THE RAILWAY BOARD RECENTLY

  1. Ticket Checking Staff to be classified as “Safety Category”.

  1. Parcel Porters working at Railway Stations on Zonal Railways should be regularised.

  1. Railway employees recruited under LARSGESS should be allowed to retain railway quarters allotted to their parents.

The Steering Committee also decided to direct the affiliates to conduct massive demonstrations, rallies, gate meetings etc., during the Ist week of August 2013 onwards on the demands listed below in order to prepare Railway Employees for launching sustained struggle as well as indefinite strike:-

 

1. Setting up of VIIth Central Pay Commission without further delay.

2. Abolition of New Pension Scheme – Withdrawal of PFRDA Bill from Parliament – Statutory Guarantee for New Pension Subscribers.

3. Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) on actual wages without enforcing any ceiling.

4. Merger of DA with pay.

5. Counting of Temporary status Casual Labour Service in full as qualifying service for all purposes.

6. Exemption of Transport Allowance from the purview of Income Tax.

7. Merger of Technician – II with Technician – I with Grade Pay Rs.2800/- (PB-I).

8. Revision of entry grade pay of Station Masters – to be revised to Rs.4200/- (PB-2).

9. Replacement of Grade Pay Rs.4600/- with Rs.4800/- (PB-2) w.e.f. 01/01/2006.

10. Allotment of entry Grade Pay of Rs.5400/- to the Group ‘B’ Gazetted staff.

11. Special privileges and facilities for Women employees.

12. Prevention of Down Sizing of staff strength, Out Sourcing, Contractorisation and Privatization.

13. Implement pending Board of Arbitration Awards on House Rent Allowance, Over Time, Transport Allowance besides pay scales of Accounts Department staff.

14. Rectification of MACPS anomalies.

15. Fixed Medical Allowance to be revised from Rs.300/- p.m. to not less than Rs.1000/-.

16. Removal of Ban on filling vacancies of Ministerial staff in Railways.

17. Stepping up of pay of seniors where ever juniors drawing higher pay as a result of MACPS.

18. Up-gradation of Apex Group ‘C’ to Group ‘B’ Gazetted – at least up to the extent of 15%.

19. Review of recruitment policy of erstwhile Group ‘D’ posts now in PB-1 & Grade Pay Rs.1800/- not meeting with the career advancement of staff recruited.

20. Track patrolling – support man provision – a mandatory requirement under safety.

21. Implementation of the report of Joint Committee for career growth of Track Maintainer in toto.

22. LARSGESS – Removal of restrictions-Adoption of Compassionate Appointment procedure duly abolishing written test. Widening the scope to cover higher Grades Pay also.

23. Abolition of 12/- Hours duty in Railways – Reduction of Duty Hours of Running and Safety categories staff.

24. Provision of Employment to Wards of Employees.

25. Rectification of various anomalies of 6th CPC in the case of various other categories of staff on promotion to same grade pay shouldering greater responsibilities.

Allotment of higher Grade Pay to the Loco Pilots and Guards, Supervisory categories, Field Technical staff, Administrative Office staff, Workshops and Production Units staff besides those in Grade Pay of ₹1800/-, ₹1900/- and above.

26. Career improvement of Safaiwalis/Safaiwalas in Indian Railways (Committee has been constituted at the instance of NFIR).

27. Health care of employees, their families besides retired employees with adequate number of Doctors, Para Medical Staff, Super specialists etc., need to be provided in all Railway Hospitals/Health Units.

28. Coverage of all Railway employees under Incentive Scheme in Workshops, PUs etc., which are presently not covered.

29. Parity in stenographers, Pay Scales at par with CSS/RBSS (Railway Ministry has committed to NFIR).

30. Reduction of Duty Hours of Nursing Staff.

31. Training Allowance to be revised to 30% of pay in all Training Centres/Schools.

32. SPAD definition needs to be reviewed to prevent harassment and victimisation of Running Staff and safety category staff.

33. Project incentive allowance to all staff working in projects on Indian Railways.

34. Automatic creation of posts in safety/operational categories for manning new services and maintaining new assets – Filling up of all vacancies.

35. Enhancement of Income Tax exemption limit in the case of running staff.

36. Running Rooms should be improved, air-conditioned and upgraded on priority.

37. Grant of Daily Allowance to Staff Car Drivers.

38. Absorb quasi administrative units/offices staff against Group ‘D’ vacancies.

39. Revise the rates of Patient Care Allowance and Hard Duty Allowance and also cover other para-medical staff.

40. Fixed Medical Allowance be enhanced in view of escalation of cost.

41. Allow companion to travel in same class for Senior Citizen.

Source:

S.N.Malik

Press Secretary/NFIR