Title - Cong-backed railway union threatens indefinite stir over pending demands

NEW DELHI: Congress-backed railway union has threatened a nation-wide indefinite strike in October if their long-pending demands relating to pay and perquisites are not met.

The strike call came from National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), associated with Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) after similar threat from other rail employees unions, including All-India Railwaymen Federation.

The strike would be in support of demands, including better pay packages for track men, cadre restructuring, and clearance of arrears and scrapping of the new pension scheme that the Federation has been making since last year.

"After discussion, it was decided to give four months time to the Government to announce appointment of 7th Pay Commission and settle pending issues through negotiated settlement, failing which the NFIR would take steps for launching indefinite strike on Indian Railways," the statement issued by NFIR said.

M Raghavaiah, general secretary of NFIR, said, "We have decided to go on strike if the demands were not met. The demands include appointment of the Seventh Pay Commission because Dearness Allowance was already 80% of the basic pay and inflation was galloping."

"There was need for cadre restructuring of railwaymen for due promotion of three lakh employees," he said.

NFIR has also demanded entry grade of Rs 4,200 for station master and the abolition of the new pension scheme with enhanced fixed medical allowance from Rs.300 to Rs.1,000 for pensioners.

The union demanded that the railway ministry should rectify the anomalies that were harming the operating staff and trackmen.