Strike ballot over the Indian Railways on 20th and 21st
December, 2013 on 36-point Charter of Demands — Resolution adopted in
the 89th Annual Convention of AIRF
A.I.R.F.
All India Railwaymen's Federation
No.AIRF/160(C)(ii)(297)
Dated November 27, 2013
The Secretary(E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi
Dear Sir,
Sub:
Strike
ballot over the Indian Railways on 20th and 21st December, 2013 on
36-point Charter of Demands — Resolution adopted in the 89th Annual
Convention of AIRF, held at Patna from 22-24 November, 2013As
per the Resolution unanimously adopted in the 89th Annual Convention of
the All India Railwaymen's Federation, held at Patna from 22nd to 24th
November, 2013, Strike Ballot would be conducted all over the Indian
Railways on 20th and 21st December, 2013.
It is requested to
advise all the Zonal Railways, Metro Railway Kolkata, RDSO Lucknow and
Production Units to extend all the facilities for conducting Strike
Ballot smoothly.
Copy of the Resolution, unanimously adopted in the above-mentioned Convention of the A1RF, is enclosed herewith.
Yours faithfully,
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary
RESOLUTION NO. 2 - PROBLEMS OF THE RAILWAYMEN
The
problems of railwaymen like filling up of vacancies, sanction of
addition posts in commensurate with additional work load, scraping of
New Pension Scheme, appointment of 7th CPC, removal of anomalies of
6th CPC, removal of ceiling of PLB, implementation of Welfare Schemes
assured by the Railway Ministers, implementation of the recommendation
of Joint Committee on the problems of Trackman, merger of Tech. Gr. II
with Tech. Gr. I, provision of 4800 as apex scale in Gr. ‘C’,
upgradation of posts from Group ‘C’ to ‘B’, merger of grade pay Rs. 2400
with Rs. 2800, treatment of 100% CL/CPC service as regular one,
stepping up of pay of senior one, extension of the scope of LARSGESS,
demand for recruitment of wards of railwaymen, Accounts and other
Ministerial staff, grievances of Loco & Traffic Running Staff,
Traffic Operating, Shunting & Yard staff, Commercial & Ticket
Checking staff, Artisan staff, technical supervisors, Supervisors of
other Departments, P. Way staff, staff of Bridge and works of Civil
Engineering Departments, Signal & Telecommunication Staff,
Paramedical and other Medical staff, Health and Sanitation staff, staff
of store department, Stenographers, EDP staff, Hindi Translators,
Scientific staff, Train Escorting Duty staff etc. have been represented
to the Ministry of Railways and the Govt. of India repeatedly and
through demonstrations before Parliament on 25th November, 2011 and 28th
March, 2012. The problems were reiterated through a resolution during
last 88th Annual Conference of AIRF held in December, 2012 at
Vishakhapattnam followed by subsequent representations at different
levels. Subsequently AIRF in its Working Committee had to decide to
conduct Strike Ballot. The Railway Board at the Apex level had held a
negotiation with AIRF on the Charter of Demands on 23.08.2013 and
certain issues were resolved.
The Govt. had placed the PFRDA
Bill on the floor of Parliament on 3rd September, 2013. All the Unions
affiliated to AIRF throughout the country has registered protest through
various means against the PFRDA Bill. But brushing aside the opposition
the Govt. have passed the Bill on the floor of Lok Sabha and Rajya
Sabha. The same is now waiting for the ascent of the President.
The
General Council meeting of AIRF held at New Delhi on 13th September
deliberated on the whole issues and decided to conduct Strike Ballot
throughout the country on 20th & 21st December, 2013.
The
Govt. have announced appointment of 7th Pay Commission on 25th
September, 2013. The Railway Board have issued orders of restructuring
of certain Gr. ‘C’ categories on 8th October, 2013.
During
Strike negotiation in February, 2006, the Govt. had agreed to appoint a
High Powered Committee to go into the question of duty hours and the
other problems of Running staff and other Safety Categories of staff.
The committee was appointed on 25.05.2011 after repeated
representations. The committee has since submitted its report to the
Railway Board on 23.08.2012. The recommendation of the Committee is far
from satisfaction and the problems need to be addressed.
After
reviving the whole situation, the 89th Annual Conference of All India
Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) held at Patna from 22nd to 24th November,
2013 demands on the Ministry of Railways and the Govt. of India to have
negotiated settlements on all the following issues, failing which AIRF
would be compelled to conduct Strike Ballot on 20th & 21st December,
2013.
36-point Charter of Demands
1. Filling up all vacant posts.
2. Sanction additional post in commensurate with the increase in the number of trains and workload.
3.
Stop outsourcing of perennial nature of jobs violating the provision of
Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970.
4.
Scrap New Pension Scheme and cover all Railwaymen with Pension and
Family Pension Scheme as available to the staff appointed prior to
01.01.2004.
5. Recommendations of the Joint Committee
constituted to study the career progression and package for Trackmen has
been diluted arbitrarily. The recommendation should be implemented in
to to.
6. Remove the ceiling limit of Rs. 3500 for the purpose of payment of PLB.
7. Raise the ceiling of Income Tax deduction to Rs.5.00 lakh.
8.
Exempt Transport Allowance and Special Duty Allowance from the perview
of Income tax deduction and also raise the Income Tax deduction ceiling
on Running Allowance.
9. Remove all anomalies of 6th CPC as
agreed upon in the meeting of Departmental Anomaly Committee and resolve
all anomalies pending before NC/JCM Anomaly Committee
10. Complete Cadre restructuring of left over categories.
11.
Liberalize the procedure of GDCE, raise its limit from 25% to 50% of DR
Quota and arrange to hold the examination at Zonal/Divisional level.
12. Merger of Grades of Technician Gr. II and Gr. I duly granting GP of Rs.2800.
13. Provision of GP of Rs.,4800 in place of Rs.4600 to all senior Supervisors.
14. Upgradation of 15% apex level Group ’C’ posts to Group `B’.
15.
Settle the long pending grievances of Running Staff such as granting of
Running Allowance w.e.f.1-1-2006 duly improving the ALK, Reduction in
Duty Hours, Provision of Additional Allowance to Running Staff working
in Goods Trains and also to Traffic Running Staff working as Goods
Guards and Passenger Guards, improvements in the condition of Running
Rooms etc.
In SPAD Cases penalty of “Removal from Service” should be withdrawn.
16.
Running Allowance be paid to the medically de-categorized Running staff
kept on supernumerary posts and issue necessary clarification for
payment of final settlement dues taking 55% of Pay into account .
17. Merger of Grade Pay of Rs.2400/- and Grade Pay of Rs.2800 for all categories of Staff.
18. Grant Parity to Stenographers working in the field office and that of the Secretariat in respect of Grade Pay.
19.
Repair Quarters, roads, drains and do not compel staff to stay in
inhabitable quarters and pay House Rent Allowance to such staff.
20.
Reckoning of 100% Casual Labour/CPC Service rendered as qualifying
service for seniority and pensionary benefits pending with the
Government in spite of Hon’ble Supreme Court judgement.
21.
Issue order for stepping up of Pay of Seniors who are drawing less pay
than the Juniors consequent on fixation of pay due to implementation of
VI CPC recommendations between the direct recruits and promotees.
22.
Stepping up of Pay of senior employee on par with junior employee
consequent on modification of ACP Scheme as MACP and grant three
financial upgradation on promotional hierarchy.
23. The Safety
Related Voluntary Retirement Scheme has been modified as LARSGESS
permitting the Railway employees in safety categories to give voluntary
retirement so as to enable their wards getting appointed. The age should
be extended up to 59 years.
Expand the scope of LARSGESS
amongst all categories of staff, re-consider the cases of candidates
failed in PET and allot Qrs.to the wards at par with compassionate
ground appointees.
24. Improvement of conditions in the Railway
Hospitals and filling up of all vacancies of Doctors, Nurses and
paramedical staff, regularization of the services of Contract
Paramedical staff, provide Medical facilities to the staff posted in
roadside stations and Ganghuts.
25. The demand of recruitment of
wards of railwaymen as Substitutes has not been implemented by the GMs
of the Zonal Railways due to several restrictions imposed in the orders
of the Railway Board.
26. The welfare schemes announced in the
Railway Budget such as opening of Nursing Colleges, Medical and
Engineering Colleges, Polytechnics, Kendriya Vidyalas for the children
of Railwaymen, extension of medical facilities and pass to both
dependant father and mother of Railway employees etc. are yet to be
implemented by the Board.
27. As per the decision taken in the
DC/JCM Meeting 5% of the sanctioned strength of the Section Officers in
the pre-revised scale of Rs.6500-10500 was earmarked to Non-qualifying
Appendix III Accounts Assistants. Consequent upon the implementation of
VI CPC recommendations, the same was revised to 1% of the combined
strength of SOs & SO(A)s , reducing the percentage. The demand of
increasing the same to 5% on the combined strength of SOs and SSO(A)s is
still pending with the Railway Board. Also revise the pay scale of
Accounts Staff w.e.f 01.01.1996 instead of 19.02.2003 as per judgement
of Hon’ble CAT Ernakulam, Hon’ble Kerla High Court, and Hon’ble Supreme
Court(Jose Sebastian & Ors. VS Union of India & Ors.). Review
Petition No.1494 of 2013.
28. Settle the grievances of AC
Mechanics and AC Attendants deputed to work on trains in respect of duty
hours, accommodation in trains etc.
29. Even though several
times the issue of absorption of Quasi Administrative staff was
discussed, no orders have been issued so far for absorption of Quasi
Administrative staff in the Railways.
30. Increase the amount of Fixed Medical Allowance and issue Smart Card to all RELHS beneficiaries.
31. Grant parity in pension and family pension to the staff / family retired prior to 01.01.2006.
32.
Revise the rates of Risk Allowance and grant Patient Care Allowance to
the staff of Medical Deptt. working in Kitchen, Store, Watching duties
etc.
33. Limit duty hours of staff to a maximum of 7 hours a day.
34. Review the recommendation of High Powered Committee in consultation with AIRF
35. Pay TA, OT, NDA, National Holiday Pay etc. regularly.
36. Increase the rate of Special Duty Allowance by 25% with retrospective effect from 01.01.2011.
Source: AIRF
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