Justification of Demands

In very short justification of our demands are given below

We have already submitted memo detailing the justification of our grievances in various occasions to Ministry for Railways. Now I herewith submitting before your lordship in brief which I feel, will be sufficient to make your honour to convince about the justification of our grievances.

1. GP of ALPs – Besides the educational qualification of class X + ITI although many of diploma holders have joined as ALP, hardeous duty, working against Nature, day and night working. Multi skilled working, working staying from social performance, share the equal responsibilities same punishment if any lapses committed, as like as Loco Pilot in train operation and also under go same Training as like as LP, then in-fact now ALP is not an ALP but became as co-Loco Pilot but their GP is Rs. 1900/- all most all equal to class ‘D’ categories, is nothing but a blow to their status and a gross injustice to them. We therefore demand Rs. 2800/- as GP to ALP to protect the status, to recognize their multi skilled duty and also onerous duty as well as to encourage them to perform their duty with full satisfaction in the interest of safe operation of trains.

2. GP of Loco Pilot – The VICPC while recommending the GP of different categories of LP has broken historical and vertical relativity of Loco Running Staff with other categories. Even the categories who has least safety risk benefited with improvement in their GP but the Loco Running Staff are subjected to injustice and further depression in Pay. We had already submitted at very initial stage a chart to show that the pay of Loco Running Staff have increased less than other categories of Railway Man.

VICPC has done another injustice by recommending only one GP for LP (G), LP (Pass), and LP (Mail/Exp) of Rs. 4200/- although it is a promotional grade. The Railway Board itself agreed and also issued circulars that LP (Goods), LP (Pass), and LP (Mail) is a promotional channel through process of selection / suitability test then what is a justification for one GP of Rs. 4200/- for all grade of Loco Pilots VI CPC also recommended different GP for promotional grades. So, our demand is that GP for Loco Pilot (Shunting) should be Rs. 4200/- for LP (G) 4600/-, LP (Pass) Rs. 4800/- and for LP (Mail) Rs. 5400/-. Further due to one GP for all grades LPs at many places the Loco Pilots are denied promotional increment to Loco Pilot (Pass) Loco pilot (Mail) when they get promotion, although it are the promotional grades through selection / suitability test.

3. A Committee on running allowance was constituted which report came in 1980, which is properly known as RAC 80 which recommended a formula to reckon the Running allowances. This constitutes 30% the Pay + 20 days TA. Since three decade the formula is in force to evaluate the rate of kilometer-age allowance and now, it is attempted to dilute this formula. The kilometer allowance consist of 30% of Pay as Pay element and 20 days TA although we remain all most all 25 days out from HQ and en-tiled for TA, but the railway Board simply doubled the rate of TA what was prior to implementating of VICPC and formulated the rate of KM i.e. on Rs. 210/- for LP but not on appropriate rate of TA i.e. Rs. 340/- for LP. Even our Running allowance is not enhanced when all the allowances are enhanced by 25% in view of increased rate of DA rate, over and above 50% i.e. 51% in-addition enhanced rate of running allowance should have the effect with 1.1.06. Since a portion of pay constitutes the running allowance and pay enhancement get its effect wef. 1.1.2006 and so a great injustice is being done to us and so our demand is that the rate kilometer-age allowance be formulated based RAC 80 formula which is in-forced since last three decade and have the effect of Kilometer-age allowance, so arrived on enhanced Pay from 01.01.06 to 31.08.08 and then from 01.09.08 the date the new TA rate i.e. Rs. 340/- got effected. And again it should be reckoned wef. The date from which the enhanced TA rate due to enhancement of DA rate to 51%, got effected.

4. Revision of HOER – While Railway Board agreed at different occasion to review the HOER in the present content but still it is not done. It will not out of place to mention that still the Loco Running Staff are forced to work even more than 14 to 16 hrs and no trip rest or periodical rest is given in appropriate manner which is not only unsafe working but violation of concerned rule the Loco Running Staff becoming victim of different deases due to excessive work so demand for job evaluation of our work and judiciary review of HOER accordingly.

5. Onerous duty allowance – It should be granted to all of the Loco Running Staff because all have same type of work instead of confiding it to Loco Pilot (Pass) and Loco Pilot (Mail).

6. Discriminate action – Further the discriminate actions have been taken against the Loco Running Staff, which further aggravate the situation: -

i) In regards to MACP, a discrimination is done to Loco Running Staff based on misinterpretation of the rule and thus in many cases at many places, the Loco Pilot (Pass) and Loco Pilot (Mail) is deprived with MACP although they are eligible.

ii) In regard to safety related voluntarily Retirement scheme for safety categories. The Loco Running Staff are discriminated in regard to its eligibility.

iii) Selection of Loco inspector modified to general selection, which against the interest of Loco Running Staff.

7. The train services have been increased manifold, where as staff strength drastically reduced result of which unsafe working long hour’s duty . Immediate cadre review at all the depots are require and vacant posts to be filled as accordingly.

(M. N. Prasad)

Secretary General

AILRSA