A two-day meeting of the
All India Working Committee of the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
will be held from August 7. The working committee will decide on the date for
taking a secret ballot vote to go on strike. The employees are protesting against
delays in appointing the Seventh Pay Commission and promotions of over 3 lakh
employees, among other issues.
A large number of railway
employees held demonstrations across the state. In Ahmedabad, the
demonstrations were led by J G Mahurkar, general secretary, WR Mazdoor Sangh.
“The issue of the Seventh Pay Commission and the implementation of the
cadre-restructuring report for promotions have been pending with the railways
and finance ministry for over two years. It’s time the government takes action,”
said Mahurkar. They also demanded that the New Pension Scheme be scrapped and
guaranteed pensions be given to railwaymen who have joined since April 1, 2004.
On June 24, the steering
committee of the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen and Western Railway
Mazdoor Sangh had taken the decision to conduct a strike ballot and paralyze
operations if these demands were not met within the next three months. The union
leader has demanded entry pay of Rs 42,000 for station masters. He further said
that the railway ministry should rectify the anomalies of the Sixth Pay
Commission, which are harming the operating staff and trackmen.
Mahurkar also demanded that
the ministry increase the fixed medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 for pensioners.
Source : Times of India
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