Report by Shri Kamal Singh, AILRSA, Mumbai Division
On April 1st 2022 the Railway authorities in Mumbai Division issued a circular to the running staff operating goods traffic namely loco pilots, assistant loco pilots and goods guards. As per the circular their duty rosters would be changed. Previously the running staff would leave from their headquarters and after performing duty would return to their headquarters and sign off. But now, supposing somebody’s headquarters is Kalyan Station then he would be asked to sign off duty at Panvel station. Then rest there for 5 to 6 hours and the next duty he would be asked to sign off at Vasai Road station, rest there for 5 to 6 hours. At the next duty he would finally be asked to return to headquarters Kalyan and sign off there. In this way the running staff will be kept away from their home for 2 to 3 days without proper sleep and rest, devoid of family and cultural life and totally exhausted.
To protest against these inhuman rules the entire running staff of Mumbai division operating the goods traffic boycotted work from the morning of 6th April 2022, 10 AM onwards and is continuing even until 7th April night. The entire goods traffic in Mumbai division has come to a halt.
The entire agitation has been spontaneously organised and shows the mass resentment of the goods running staff of Mumbai division against the new circular issued by the Railway authorities. It has participation from running staff belonging to all the different unions in the Railways.