Seventh Pay Commission – Railwaymen to take Secret Ballot to decide on Strike

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