To avoid industrial unrest, withdraw the Board’s letter, & if need, call joint meeting -GS/AIRF

Annual Targets for surrenders the 13,450 posts through Work Studies by Zonal Railways, AIRF wrote to the Board

COVID-19 Pandemic has put lives into disarray all around, and it is commendable that, Railway Employees continue to work towards ensuring that the system is not paralysed. It is a universally known fact that the Indian Railways, which have been working non-stop round the clock in the face of the risks to the personnel who were most of the time overworked, and even during most stringent lockdown period, be it in the year 2020 or 2021, has been one of the major contributors towards keeping the Indian Economy from crashing.

Contemplating surrender of posts at this juncture is unthinkable since the employees are already short–staffed. Services of the re-engaged staff were terminated during the previous year, and it is understood that, since no instructions have been received from the Railway Board regarding extension of currency for operation of Ex-Servicemen engaged on contract basis, their services have also been terminated in various categories by the Zonal Railways.

As has already been apprised by the AIRF earlier, there are a large-number of retirements slated for this year and next; this would further deplete the staff strength.

The concept of appointing staff on contract basis should be done away with as it is a long process and their reliability cannot be vouched for.

Each of the employees put his own life at risk, and some even lost their lives in the line of duty during the pandemic.

Most of the Doctors, Nurses, Paramedical Staff and Hospital Assistants, recruited on contract basis during the pandemic, failed to join duty, adding to the workload of the existing regular employees at a crucial period. Hence all the vacancies should be filled-up on a permanent basis.

It is pertinent to mention that the concept of Safety and Non-Safety has changed during the pandemic situation for all categories of employees, right from an Office Peon to Running Staff, can all be classified as belonging to the Safety Category.

The CRB & CEO himself has acknowledged the fact that, thousands of Railway Employees (from all categories) have been afflicted during the pandemic, and more than 2,000 have laid down their lives. Thus, terming only certain categories, as belonging to “Safety Category”, cannot be accepted in the present situation, said Shivgopal Mishra.

In a press release, Shivgopal Mishra, GS/AIRF said, “If by the term “Safety Category” Railway Board refers to only employees who are involved in safe running of trains and thus ensure safety of the passengers, then we need to question the Board regarding safety of the employees. We do accept the adage that “Customer is King”, but then what about the employees?

Only an administration, which ensures safety of its employees can expect them to work towards ensuring safety of the customers, he said.

It also needs to be mentioned here that, none of the contract labour, who were entrusted with outsourced activities, turned up during the pandemic, due to obvious reasons, leaving Railways in the lurch.

Railway Employees are the ones who have been performing these duties in addition to their normal duties.

Further, several new activities have emerged during the pandemic in almost all the departments, and posts need to be created for the same.

Pondering over surrender of posts at this time is inhuman and has been causing much displeasure among the employees.

Promotions could not be effected since selections could not be conducted on account of the pandemic, and many employees on the verge of retirement have been deprived of the benefits.

Serving Employees have also been long deprived of well deserved promotions. As such, this Federation is of the considered view that, no posts should be surrendered.

There had been policy that, before finalisation of the Work Study Report, Work Study Officer/SDGM will send report to the Recognised Unions, and their objections will be resolved before finalising the Work Study Report. Had this practice been followed in the above case?

Surrender of so many posts, without consulting Organised Labour, will create lots of agitation, said Com. Mishra.

He requested to the Board and said, your goodself, always keen on looking into the welfare of the staff, would surely agree that the hardwork performed by the Railwaymen, even during these tough times, should definitely be recompensed in a suitable manner.

To avoid industrial unrest, it is requested that, Railway Board’s letter supra dtd 20.05.2021, should be withdrawn forthwith, and if need be, a Joint Meeting be organised with the Organised Labour.

Ref.: Railway Board letter No. 2020/E&R/2(8)/1, dated 20.05.2021

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