AIRF to conduct secret ballot on 11-12th, February 2016 to decide on indefinite strike from 06.00 hrs on 11th April 2016.
All affiliated unions of AIRF had conducted Strike Ballot on 37 Point Charter of Demands in the month of December, 2013. After Strike Ballot, 7th CPC was appointed by a Notification
by the Govt. on 28th February, 2014 and some of the issues were
partially resolved. In the meantime General Election of Country was
convened, we had to postponed the strike
as per decision of the General Council of AIRF held at Kota 9W. C.
Railway) in February, 2014. The new Govt. led by Shri Narendra Modi took
oath on 26th May, 2014. The next General Council of AIRF held in July,
2014 postponed the strike decision further to provide time to the new
Govt. to settle. But the same Govt. instead of reciprocrating the good
gesture issued notification on 22nd August, 2014 permitting 100% Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) in Construction, Operation and Maintenance and after
one month i.e. on 22nd September, 2014 appointed a Committee headed by
Shri BibekDebroy for re-structuring of Indian Railways. STRIKE BALLOT
All affiliated unions of AIRF had conducted Strike Ballot on 37 Point Charter of Demands in the month of December, 2013. After Strike Ballot, 7th CPC was appointed by a Notification
by the Govt. on 28th February, 2014 and some of the issues were
partially resolved. In the meantime General Election of Country was
convened, we had to postponed the strike as per decision of the General Council of AIRF held at Kota 9W. C. Railway) in February, 2014.
The new Govt. led by Shri Narendra Modi took oath on 26th May, 2014.
The next General Council of AIRF held in July, 2014 postponed the strike
decision further to provide time to the new Govt. to settle. But the
same Govt. instead of reciprocrating the good gesture issued notification on 22nd August, 2014 permitting 100% Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) in Construction, Operation and Maintenance and after
one month i.e. on 22nd September, 2014 appointed a Committee headed by
Shri BibekDebroy for re-structuring of Indian Railways.
The Committee had since submitted its report drawing a road – map for
privatisation of Indian Railways through contractorisation. Inspite all
out protest by all affiliated union of AIRF and other Central Govt.
Employee’s organisation Govt. did not stop in taking all antilabour
steps, rather escalating the same. The 7th CPC was appointed to submit
its report within 18 months i.e. by August, 2015. During deliberations
of NC/JCM with the Pay Commission, Justice A. K. Mathur, the Chairman of
the 7th CPC assured that he would submit the report to the Govt. on
28th August, 2015.
But the Govt. extended the date for submission of the report by 4
months. The Pay Commission has submitted its report on 19th November,
2015, which is over loaded with all antilabour recommendations. The
National Joint Council of Action has submitted a rejoinder to the report
to the Govt. on 10th December, 2015 and AIRF has submitted two
rejoinders on the report of 7th CPC to the Ministry of Railways on
14th& 15th December, 2015, fixing a time frame of 1st week of
February, 2016 for a negotiated settlement failing which all the Central
Govt. Employees including Railways would be compelled to launch an
indefinite strike from any date from 1st week of March, 2016. There was
only a preliminary discussion with the Govt. on 12th December, 2015.
The Govt. has formed a Committee of Empowered Secretaries of the
Govt. of India headed by the Cabinet Secretary. Finding no further
response Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra, the Convenor of National JCA has sent a
communication to the Union Finance Minister on 21st January, 2016
highlighting the protest Dharna launched by all Central Govt. Employees
Organisations across the country from 19th to 21st January, 2016. The
empowered Committee of Secretaries of the Govt. of India headed by the
Cabinet Secretary has also been appointed by the Govt. on 27.01.2016 to
process the implementation of the report of 7th CPC. The 2nd Strike
Ballot perforced by FDI, Deb Roy Committee’s report, anti labour report
of 7th CPC etc. would be conducted on 11th& 12th February, 2016 on
the following Charter of Demands.
CHARTER OF DEMANDS
1. To improve Minimum Wage of Rs.18,000/- and multiplying factor. Reject all the retrograde recommendations of the VII CPC.
2. Scrap National Pension Scheme(NPS) and restore Old Pension Scheme for all those who appointed on or after 01.01.2004.
3. Settle 36-point Charter of Demands, include reduction in duty
hours, removal of anomalies of 6th CPC, removal of ceiling of Rs.3500
for PLB, grievances of different categories of railwaymen, improvement
in the medical facilities,
railway quarters etc. etc., already submitted to Ministry of Railways by
the AIRF in December, 2013(on which strike ballot was conducted on 20th
and 21st December, 2013).
4. Scrap Report of Bibek Deb Roy Committee and implement positive recommendations of D.P. Tripathi Committee.
5. Re-call the Notification issued by the Government of India on 22nd
August, 2014 in the matter of 100% FDI in Construction, Operation and
Maintenance of Indian Railways and to scrap all the agreements entered
with the Foreign/National Companies in detriment to the interest of the
Indian Railways and the country as a whole.
6. Stop all anti-workers amendments in the labour-laws.
7. Injustice done with the Technicians, Technical
Supervisors(Engineers), Loco & Traffic Running Staff, Operating and
Medical Categories Staff, etc. etc. in respect of allotment of Pay
Matrix and promotions also should be done away with and justice be
administered.
8. Parity in pay structure and promotional scope for Common
Categories with those working in the Central Secretariat/Ministries
should be ensured.
9. Retain all the existing allowances and advances.
10-A. Constitute Joint Committee at each Ministry/Department level to
resolve VII CPC anomalies, aberrations and injustice within a time
frame manner, and powers for the same should be delegated to the
Ministries to resolve their issues at the Ministry level. 10-B. Set-up
National Joint Committee to discuss and resolve all VII CPC anomalies,
aberrations and injustice within a time frame. 11. Ensure payment of
arrear for PLB as per amendment in the Bonus Act, as was done in the
year 2008. The All India Railwaymen’s Federation gives a clarion call to
all railwaymen irrespective of their affiliation to any organization to
participate in the Strike Ballot and exercise opinion in this regard.