Nationwide rail strike threat looms large in Feb-March

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the UPA government has a major challenge at hand as the biggest rail union is likely to go on an indefinite strike in February-March to push through its long-pending demands like scrapping of new pension scheme, filling of vacancies and stop engaging contractual labours.

The strike threat appears real as according to the All-India Railwaymen Federation (ARF), the largest union with around 10 lakh members, over 96% employees last week voted in favour of a stir to press for their 36-point charter of demands.

A day of strike would cost railways, which is the largest employer with over 13 lakh on its rolls and moves more than 2.2 crore people and two million tonnes of cargo every day, around Rs 800 crore.

AIRF general secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said the union decided to hold a strike ballot since stirs cause a huge disruption to the economy,

"We are not political in nature, but we know when to go for strike. The strike would be called anytime before model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections comes into force," said Mishra.

AIRF is in touch with Central government unions and state employees' federations, seeking their support before calling the strike.

Congress-backed National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) too has decided to take a strike ballot in January which would turn into a major worry for railways and government in the run up to the general elections.

The union leaders are under intense pressure from young employees as they are highly disappointed with the new pension scheme.

"There is massive support for the strike. The ballot result shows the people are very angry. We are under huge pressure from employees, especially young workers who are keen on the stir," Mishra said.

While the demands include removing anomalies in the Sixth Pay Commission recommendation, sanction of addition posts in commensurate with additional workload and stopping of outsourcing of perennial jobs, the most contentious demand is scrapping of new pension scheme.

"We want guaranteed pension scheme, not the new pension scheme," he said.

AIRF will write to railway board asking it to meet the demands. As per the mandatory requirement of Industrial Dispute Act, if railways failed to negotiate, the union would serve a 45-day notice for the strike.

If the AIRF goes ahead with its plan, it will be a major strike in railways after 1974 which was led by George Fernandes. The strike was crushed by the Indira Gandhi Government, leading to widespread victimization and thousands losing their jobs.

Since then, there have been two strike ballots, but no strikes. The strike ballot was held in 2006 demanding constitution of the Sixth Pay Commission. The issue was resolved after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the Pay Commission.