Letter from Joint Action Committee for Rights and Justice of Railway Employees of Pune Division (Central Railways) of AILRSA, AIGC and CRTU to the administration
(Translation of Hindi letter)
JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE FOR RIGHTS AND JUSTICE OF RAILWAY EMPLOYEES
PUNE DIVISION, C. RLY
(AILRSA, AIGC & CRTU)
Letter no. JAC/DRM/PUNE/02/2025
Date: 31-01-2025
To,
Mr. DRM sir, Pune Division, Central Railways
Mr. Sr. DPO sir, Pune Division, Central Railways
Mr. RLC sir, Pune
Subject: Notice of JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE’s decision to organize mass hunger fast on 20-02-2025 at 06:00 for an indefinite time/until issues are resolved because of administration’s indifference towards employees’ burning issues
Respected sir,
We kindly inform you that as per the decision of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of AILRSA, a 36-hour hunger fast will be organized in Pune division for the demands of running staff. Employees in Pune division have repeatedly informed the administration of the issues they are facing locally; however, the administration has always disregarded these issues. Because of this indifferent attitude of the administration, a mass gate meeting was organized on 22-01-2025. Further, in a virtual meeting held on 29-01-2025, the Joint Action Committee decided to attract the attention of the administration, government and public by launching a mass hunger fast on 20-02-2025 at 06:00 for an indefinite time or until issues are resolved. Members of AILRSA, AIGC and CRTU from the Pune division will fast while performing their duty. A tent will be set up in front of every station depot/crew lobby/gang hut (with permission), where employees of headquarters and their families will stay and work.
As per the Trade Union Act 1926, this program is constitutional and legal and will be executed without any interruptions in railway operations. We expect the cooperation of the railway administration in this regard.
- Main demands of loco and traffic running staff:
- When DA increases by 50%, each allowance is increased by 25%. Similarly, the kilometer mileage allowance rate of running staff should also be increased by 25%.
- As per the decision of the Hon’ble RLC Karnataka, CAT Bangalore, and Dharwad Bench of Karnataka High Court (W.P. No. 66707/2010, Dt-13.04.2012), running staff should be given periodic rest (PR), which is 30 hours in addition to headquarters rest (16 hours). That is why, the order of PR for running staff of 16+30=46 hours should be implemented.
- The rule of working hours of 9 hours for running staff of goods trains and 8 hours for passenger/express trains (S/on to S/off) should be implemented. Chargesheets and penalties issued by the administration to the staff despite performing the required hours of duty should be withdrawn.
- Operation of trains by making crew bypass the headquarters or overshoot should be stopped (as per RBE No. 143/2016).
- It should be strictly ensured that running staff are not away from the headquarters for more than 36 hours (as per RBE No. 37/2010 and RBE No. E(LL)/2016/HPC/7, Dt-23-11-2016).
- Crew beat should be instituted as per rules for goods crew.
- Loco pilots of mail express or passenger trains or those working at stations/yards where there are shunter posts should not be told to perform shunting.
- Operation of trains without train managers or GDR should be stopped.
- Crew who are on headquarters rest, outstation rest, periodic rest or night in bed should not be disturbed by giving them call book under rest. The call book should be served only when crew are available.
- Rules of leave reserve 30% should be followed.
- Main demands of track maintainers:
- Considering the safety of railway employees, only employees with GP 2400 and 2800 should be sent to work on lines as they are experienced. Junior track maintainers should not be sent to the line to avoid accidents.
We are also seeing that senior track maintainers are being made to work in offices and officers’ residences, which is wrong and a misuse of the staff. This will reduce railway productivity. That is why, track maintainers who are being made to work in offices or officers’ residences should be instead sent to the line so that other staff are not overburdened. Due to shortage of staff, several posts on the line are lying vacant. - Cycle allowance should be provided in this division. Arrears of cycle allowance should also be paid.
- When a trackman of the Pune division was run over, we opposed the operation of trains over his dead body (in accordance with Railway Act 1989). In response, the administration issued chargesheets, which should be withdrawn.
- Track maintainers working under ADEN/MRJ have still not received upgradation from L-1 to L-2 (GP 1800 to 1900). Upgradation should be done.
- Rakshak devices should be provided.
- Working hours should be limited to 8 hours (including lunch).
- Patrolling starting point should be considered from one station to another.
- Considering the safety of railway employees, only employees with GP 2400 and 2800 should be sent to work on lines as they are experienced. Junior track maintainers should not be sent to the line to avoid accidents.
All the above demands are just demands of the employees and related to the safety of railways. It is important to fulfill them. Hence, we hope that respected sir will make efforts to strengthen industrial relations between the administration and the workers, which can keeping in mind rail productivity improvement and employee welfare.
Thank you.
Yours,
PINTU ROY
(ASST. SECRETARY GENERAL, AILRSA)
& CONVENER
JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE,
(AILRSA, AIGC & CRTU)
PUNE DIVISION, CR
Copy to:
RPF THANA
CRP THANA