Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee correspondent
Indian Railways’ loco running staff have been fighting continuously against their atrocious working conditions. Now their family members are also joining their struggle. The struggle of loco running staff is to ensure safety of both passengers and workers. Most of the users of the Indian Railways are the members of working class or from their families. The entire working class of the country needs to stand in solidarity with loco pilots and their families in their fight against oppressive working conditions.
Amongst Indian Railway workers, loco running staff have been fighting continuously against their atrocious working conditions. Towards improving the working conditions, they have been demanding that their duty be restricted to less than 8 hours and all vacancies to be filled up on topmost priority. To suppress their struggle, the Indian Railway administration has been resorting to all sorts of strong-arm tactics. But the Loco-pilots are fighting back. Support for their struggle from other Indian Railway workers and other workers is also increasing.
It is noteworthy that lately their family members are also joining their struggle. On 10th January we carried a report of families of Loco running staff of Palghat who joined them in their Dharna.
In Pune division of Indian Railway too the family members have started joining the struggle of Loco running staff. We have received copies of several written complaints filed by the spouses of many Loco running staff of Pune division. (Attached) These letters show the extreme stress which the families of loco running staff have to bear due to the atrocious working conditions of loco running staff. These letters also show how Indian Railway administration deliberately attacks those who refuse to accept duty beyond stipulated working hours.
Families of steel sector workers, power sector workers have also come out on streets in recent times in support of the struggle against privatization and in defense of the workers rights.
The struggle of loco running staff for improving their working conditions is to ensure safety of both passengers and workers. Most of the users of the Indian Railways are the members of working class or from their families. The entire working class of the country needs to stand in solidarity with loco pilots and their families in their fight against oppressive working conditions.
Complaint filed on 24th December 2025
On 29th October 2024, my husband, was kept sitting in the name of “enquiry” in Pune DRM office for 17 hours from 8.45 a.m. till next day early morning 2 a.m. After that from 30th October 2024 till 31st March 2025 he was asked to report for duty far away from his HQ in DRM office and was assigned work for which he had not been trained. Throughout those 5 months he was constantly threatened that he would be sacked if he protests. This resulted in extreme stress for him and all of us in his family. During those 5 months even, his salary was not given as per rules and when he demanded that his salary be paid as per rules and he should be transferred back to HQ he was asked for commission and again threatened with sacking. But my husband still started making complaints about delayed salary, after which he was slapped with 2 charge sheets and twice he was suspended from duty, with a threat that if proven guilty he would lose increments for next 5 years.
Complaint filed on 2nd January 2026
My husband who is a goods loco-pilot, was deliberately given duty far away from HQ from for nearly four months from 27th November 2024 to 31st March 2025. He was assigned duty like Crew Controller and Power Controller for which he was never trained. During that period his salary was not paid as per rules. When he started demanding for timely payment of salary and transfer back to HQ, he was asked for commission and was threatened that he would be removed from service. All this caused extreme stress for him and his family. Then he was given 16 hours continuous duty in control office without even any lunch break or tea break and was slapped with 2 chargesheets on completely imaginary counts. On that basis he was suspended and penalized with freeze of his increment for 4 years. But he was not given any official suspension letter / order.
Complaint filed on 6th January 2026
The complaint was filed by wife of one of the most active leaders of Pune division.
From 24th October 2025 to 18th November 2025, my husband was sent to Mumbai to be under medical supervision with an accusation that his mental balance needs to be checked. This resulted in lot of stress for entire family. He was subsequently declared completely fit for resuming duty. Allowances for that period have not been cleared till date.
After that from 1st Jan 2025 to 16th February 2025, for 47 days, without any written order he was removed from regular duty and not paid running allowance for that period which is causing hardship for the family. Again from 17th Feb 2025 till 13th July 2025 for a period of 7 months he was deliberately given duty far away from HQ and hence lots of hardship for our entire family.
Complaint filed on 6th January 2026
My husband was unofficially suspended from duty from 14th January 2025 till 12th February 2025, without assigning any reasons and during this period no enquiry was conducted. Salary for this period has been withheld which has not been paid till date. Then my husband was instructed to work for very long duty hours which he refused since it will endanger safety of railway. Then he was given office duty far away from HQ for around five months from 13th February 2025 to 29th June 2025. This caused lots of stress for him and all the family members.