Resolution passed in BGM of AILRSA SCR

ALL INDIA LOCO RUNNING STAFF ASSOCIATION

Regd. No:  17903                 SOUTH CENTRAL ZONE     

                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                   President        : K.SURYAKUMAR                                                                   Station:  Vijayawada

Secretary       : SHAJI.M.K                                                                              Date    :   18-07-2012

RESOLUTIONS

                       

PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE 11^TH SOUTH CENTRAL ZONAL CONFERENCE OF ALL INDIA LOCO RUNNING STAFF ASSOCIATION ON 18-07-2012, AT Com.A.MUNIREDDY HALL(ROTARY CLUB BLOOD BANK BUILDING, GANDHI NAGAR,VIJAYAWADA) @Com.Ch.Narasimha Vedika,.

1.STOP THE INHUMAN WORKING CONDITIONS:

                Running Staff are put to lot of hardships by forcing them to work like a bonded labour. 

     Running staff are:

a)     Forced to work continuously for 15 to 20 Hours at a stretch without any rest or relaxation.

b)    Not given weekly off (PR) for weeks together.

c)     Forced to work away from their headquarters for more than 3 or 4 days.

d)    Forced to work upto 6 consecutive night duties, citing steam-era HOER Rules which stipulates a impracticable and inhuman duties.

e)     Forced to work double the distance of normal working crew beat in the name of crack specials and extended crew runs, subjecting them to severe fatigue and inhuman conditions of work, endangering the safety of personnel and railways.  Instead of reducing the length of crew beat, of late NDL staff are forced to work from DHNE to NLPD, by-passing the HQ and working into other Division.

f)      Not granted leave even in an emergency, forget about the other domestic needs and social obligations.

g)     Staff who fell ill and refused to be taken on sick list by Railway Medical Officer under the telephonic instructions received from the CCC/Branch Officer.

h)    First-In-First-Out rule is not observed at out stations in SC Division.

          Due to these inhuman working conditions, Running Staff are deprived of their family life, thereby causing mental agony to the Staff, as well as to the family members.

           Already the “Parliamentary Standing Committee on Safety” in-2004 recommended 8 hours duty for running staff, citing that longer duty hours will develop fatigue and lead to sleep and operational lapses. Recently RLC/Chennai has reviewed the classification of Running Staff and classified the loco pilot working Mail/Exp. Trains as ‘Intensive’. But the Railway Administration have gone on an appeal to CLC/New Delhi to buy time and deny the benefit to the Running Staff.

          In addition to that, the Railway Board has accepted to take every effort to reduce the absence of Running Staff from their HQs to the extent possible and accepted to restrict such absence to 36 hours, though it expressed its inability to restrict it to 24hrs. vide R.B. Lr.No.E(ll)2009/her/1 dated 28.02.2010 ( RBE37/2010 ).  But even after 2

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years, these instructions remain in paper only and are not implemented yet.

          Regarding Night duties, the RDSO findings mention that, the mid-night to early morning time zone is creating the greatest stress on the Loco Pilots, as their mental alertness gets slackened more at that period.  The working on second consecutive night has been found to further dampen the mental alertness and the Loco Pilots become vulnerable to operational lapses.  Therefore it was recommended to utilize only two consecutive night duties instead of Six Consecutive nights.  It is also relevant to note that, the High Power Committee on safety, Chaired by Dr. ANIL KAKODKHAR, which recommended for redemption of duty from leave or sick at 08.00 Hrs. for Running Staff.  All these recommendations /orders are being willfully and deliberately not implemented by the Railway Administration. It is not without reason that, a spurt of SPAD and other accidents happened in S.C Zone within a short period.  This has drastically affected the life and carier of several staff and the reputation of the railways among the public.                                             

                                                

     Hence it is demanded to stop the inhuman working conditions prevailing in the SC Zone and restrict the absence of Running Staff from Head Quarter to 36 Hours and the duty hours at a stretch to 6 Hours.  It shall be ensured that leave to the extent of 30% is to be granted on any given day, notwithstanding the vacancies and shortfall in staff strength, as there are no serious efforts to fill up the posts. 

2. DEMANDS REGARDING COACHING CREW LINKS:

     Coaching Crew Links shall be prepared in such a way that the working hours will not exceed 6 hours at a stretch and limiting the night duties to two nights in a week with an interval of minimum of two days between two night duties. Inter Zonal Crew Links shall be withdrawn and crew links shall be prepared in such a way that the crew need not to work in the other Zonal Railway Sections     .

3.CORRECT ASSESMENT OF SANCTIONED STRENGTH AND FILLING UP OF VACANCIES:

     The present system of assessing the sanctioned strength of loco running staff is far below the required strength, due to dilution in existing formula of engine hours for goods crew and tight crew links of passenger and mail trains. Now 30% leave reserves to meet casualties such as leave, sick, absenteeism, etc. and 10% trainee reserves to meet the shortage due to attending the training courses are not taken into account deliberately.

     Due to these, the running staffs are forced to work for unlimited hours upto destination (without granting relief crew). Even when crew is relieved they are not allowed to go their HQs and are threatened away to another running room. Denial of Periodic Rest (PR), leave and sick is the order of the day.  Loco Running staff are forced to work extended run in coaching links and exploited on goods crack specials.  Denial of LR&S on new sections or on expiry of the existing LR&S is quite common.  Forcing the running staff to officiate in higher capacity for years together without promoting eligible candidates is in vogue through out this Railway.  Instead of granting promotion on time, the administration is exploiting the labourers by utilizing ALPs as LP (Shunting), LP(Shunting) as LP(Goods), LP(Goods) as LP(Pass) or LP(Mail&Express) etc. 

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To achieve this fit they select ‘good boys’ who are much junior and bless them with a ‘coaching fit’ certificate.  The concept of granting coaching fit certificate to staff are intended to meet exigencies like diverted trains etc, but not meant for utilizing such staff on a permanent basis in coaching trains, overlooking the rightful seniors.  This dubious practice is intended to promote nepotism and to gain illegal gratification.  Hence, it is demanded to correctly assess the sanctioned strength and fill up of all the vacancies immediately.

4.MAINTAIN CREW LINK FOR COACHING CREWS:

     In most of the depots, crew links are not maintained and crew are booked arbitrarily and as per the whims and fancies of the crew booking staff/LRC and depot-incharges. Crew are suddenly called for duty to work out-of-link trains, thereby crew are denied proper planning of their personal work and rest/sleep, putting the crew and the travelling public in jeopardy. Hence, it is demanded to maintain the crew links strictly for coaching crews. 

                                                                                                                

5. IRREGULARITIES IN SANCTIONING AND CALCULATING

PR (PERIODIC RESTS):

     Running Staff of SCR have  been denied 4 PRs in a month and many are not getting even 1 or 2 PRs in a month.  Of all the Railways of Indian Railways, only in SCR these kinds of exploitation of Labour (without any compensatory rest or monetary compensation) are going on for years.                                                                                        

          Even while reckoning the number of days, prior to the next PR, the intervening leave or sick period are deliberately ignored, resulting in loss of 1 or 2 PRs in a month.

          Again, while reckoning the number of days, prior to the next PR, the day on which a Running Staff starts working (after completion of a PR) are deliberately marked as day ‘o’, instead of day ‘1’.  Due to this unethical act, the days between two PRs of all Running Staff are shown, one day lesser than the actual days between two PRs. So, it is demanded to stop these irregularities in sanctioning and calculating PR

6. WITHDRAW THE UNSAFE INSTRUCTION, INSISTING THE RUNNING STAFF TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT MAX. PERMISSIBLE SPEED:

          To cover up their failure to plan and augment the section capacity, the Railway Authorities are forcing the Running Staff to maintain consistent Max. Permissible speed and insisting on late application of Train brakes. The main factors in the reduction of the section capacity at present is the unsafe and rampant running of trains without guards, freight trains running with restricted speeds due to over loaded wagons, running of dangerous ‘anaconda’ specials etc.   Due to these unmindful and short sighted actions, the safety consciousness inculcated in the minds of Running Staff by the persistent efforts of loco Inspectors and safety organization all  these years are deliberately erased and Running Staff are pushed into the abyss of unsafe working practices.  This will certainly have long time and deadly consequences for the safety of the Travelling Public, the reputation of the Railways and the career of the Running Staff.   It should be remembered that, even the most sophisticated Micro Processor Controlled Locomotives

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     could not maintain consistent MPS.  So, it is demanded to withdraw the unsafe instruction, insisting the Running Staff to maintain Consistent Max. Permissible speed.                                                                

7.  PROVIDE EAR-MARKED ACCOMMODATION FOR THE RUNNING STAFF, WHO GO OR COME PILOT (TRAVELLING SPARE ON DUTY):

          At present, the Running Staff are made to sit on either side of the ‘Line Box’ near the toilet of the coach, while travelling spare on duty to the neighboring zone (i.e., Southern Railway) Depot-in-charges are arranging accommodation to the Running Staff, travelling spare on duty by making prior ‘reservation’ to the nominated trains on the first of every month, as per the crew links.  It is demanded to arrange for proper ear-marked accommodation for the running staff (working charted trains & freight trains), while travelling spare on duty.

8.  STOP ISSUING UNWARRANTED CHARGE SHEETS TO THE RUNNING STAFF FOR FAILURES, ATTRIBUTABLE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS:

          Recently many running staff are issued with unwarranted charge sheets for the failures, not attributable to them, but attributable to the TXR Department (Uncoupling of loco and coaches en route) and  absence of co-ordination between the TLC organizations and  with other neighbouring zones like S.E Railway, Southern Railway etc.,   Like the dictum “All roads lead to Rome”,  it seems the Railway Authorities have created  a new dictum, “All  failures lead (attributable) to the Running Staff”.   This is apparently to save the skin of other department staff and pass the buck to the Running Staff always.  This attitude is vehemently condemned and demand to stop issuing charge sheets to the Running Staff for failures, attributable to other departments.

9.RUNNING ROOMS:

          In running rooms, separate rooms for every crew or at least cubicles are to be provided to avoid disturbance of sleep, when other crew get ready for duty. Air conditioners are to be provided to facilitate sound and peaceful sleep. R.O. filtered water is not available in most of the running rooms. Food quality is far from satisfactory and in some running room it is worse. 

10.     CCC POST IS TO BE MANNED BY RUNNING STAFF ONLY AND

NOT BY A RUNNING SUPERVISOR:

          At present, most of the Chief Crew Controller posts in the S.C.Rly are manned by the Loco Inspectors, in gross violation of the extant rules. CCC Post is a Running Staff Post and it is to be manned by Running Staff only. Moreover making a LI to work as CCC, will add more burdens on the workload of other LIs. The never ending process of the selection to the post of CCC at various depots has beaten the existing TV MEGA SERIALS by a mile. So, it is demanded to initiate the CCC selection process at the earliest.

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11. NEPOTISM AND BLATANT VIOLATION OF RULES

IN THE INTRA-DIVISIONAL TRANSFERS:

i) There are lots of irregularities, while preparing the priority list for Intra-Divisional Transfers.

     ii) Even in the case of out- of -priority transfers, there are lots of irregularities.

          So it is demanded to correct those irregularities and streamline the transfers based on laid down policies and instill confidence among the staff. Some staff are given precedence over many other staff and were transferred/retained at the station of their choice. Due to this, out-of-turn transfer, many staff, who have been separated from their families are eagerly waiting to get transfer are betrayed and put to severe hardships.

12.PAY PENDING OVERTIME ALLOWANCE ARREARS:

    Although the Railway Board has given orders for the payment of OT  Arrears  for Running Staff from 01-01-2006 to 01-09-2008, vide RBE No. 29/2010, dated 17-02-2010, it has not been paid till now, citing one reason or the other.  Hence it is demanded to pay the OT Arrears from 01-01-2006 to 01-09-2008 to the Running Staff immediately.  Inspite of utilization for longer hours of duty than the stipulated statutory upper limit, the staff have been denied OT Allowance eg.: - LP(Shunting) & LP(Mail&Exp) working at SC Depot.

                                                                                                                                                                                        

13.UPGRADATION OF ALPs

    Railway Board has ordered for cadre restructuring of ALPs i.e. upgradation to Sr. ALP in G.P. Rs.2, 400/-, vide R.B. Lr. No. PC VI/CRC/I (Pt.7), dt. 30-04-2010. After all the other divisions of South Central Railway fully implemented it, lethargically, only a partial list was published in BZA Division on 06-09-2011. i.e., after a delay of one and half years.   The remaining posts of Sr. ALP have not been filled up till now.  So it is demanded to revise the earlier order and publish a single and complete up gradation list of Sr.ALP immediately.  Even for the already upgraded Sr. ALPs, the Arrears (on difference of pay and Kilometerage) amount is not paid till now.  Hence, it is demanded to arrange payment of arrears (on difference of pay and kilometerage) immediately.

14. GRANT OF TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE

    In BZA Division Transport Allowance is unwarrantedly deducted from the Running Staff, during the period of Training and has been denied to the Running Staff till now.  Out of all the Divisions of Indian Railway, this injustice has been meted out to the Running Staff at BZA Division only.  Hence, it is demanded to repay the wrongly deducted amount of Transport from the Running Staff.

15.INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBSTITUTION OF POINTSMAN

 IN PLACE OF GUARD FOR GDR CHECK IS TO BE WITHDRAWN

          It is highly condemnable that a JPO has been issued in S.C.Railway to conduct GDR check by Loco Pilot and Pointsman, in place of Guard.  Such dilutions are definitely in the interest of safety and needs to be withdrawn forthwith. 

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16.MACP TO BE IMPLEMENTED URGENTLY

     Wherever MACP has not been implemented, it should be urgently implemented.  This is very much relevant considering the fact that there is no benefit accrued to running staff on their promotion to the post of LP(Goods), LP(Pass) and LP(Mail & Express).

17.DOUBLE MANNING OF EMU/DEMU/DHMU/MEMU

     In the interest of travelling public’s safety, it is strongly urged to provide Assistant Loco Pilot in all driving cabs of EMU/DEMU/DHMU/MEMU.  This facility shall be also extended to Shunting Locos. 

                                                                                                                                        

18.IMPLEMENT MINUTES OF RAILWAY BOARD MEETING

     It is vehemently urged to immediately implement the Railway Board Meeting Minutes on SPAD Lr No.2004/M(L)/466/7101 dated 14-06-2012 which inter alia recommended:

(i)    Uniform cab design with SA9 and A9 at same place, Uniform type/operation of throttle (MP);

(ii) Sound proof cabs with Air Condition;

(iii)           Seat quality to be improved to avoid occupational diseases like slipped discs, back pain etc.;

(iv)                       Crew Lounge with resting facility is to be provided to avail proper rest after signing on duty till the departure of the train.  It is to be appreciated that many corporate offices have nap rooms to revive the energy level and enthusiasm of staff by permitting them to allow nap for a while.

(v) Subsidised meals quality is alarmingly poor throughout the railways.  To improve the quality of food supplied under subsidy, staff shall be granted food allowance and instruct them to pay at Running Room, instead of Railways paying the Contractor.  This will compel the Contractor to keep good quality food lest the staff would venture out for better food.

(vi)                       Calendar Day Rest to be granted in lieu of present PR system, to fulfill the social and family obligations of staff.

(vii)Atleast one refresher trip Learning of Road & Signals (LR&S) to be granted if staff have not operated in any particular section for one month.

(viii)Night duties between 22.00hrs to 06.00hrs to be restricted to limit to a maximum of 06hrs.

(ix)Depending on load/road, proper reality based time-tabling to be done duly granting enough time for acceleration / deceleration.  Loco recovery time also to be included in the WTT.

(x)Loco running staff shall be deployed to work only in one traction i.e., either Diesel-Electric or Electric.

(xi)Unified G&SR to be published for the whole of Indian Railways.

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(xii)The Engineering Caution Indicator shall include the upcoming Speed Restriction, to pre-warn the crew.

(xiii)Whenever new technology/modification is introduced in the locomotive, proper training shall be imparted to the LIs/Crew.

(xiv)25% of LIs to be promoted from LP(Mail& Express)

(xv)The duty hours of coaching trains to be reduced urgently to 6hrs at a stretch as they encounter one signal in every minute on an average.

(xvi)Pending the demand of booking of Crew which report for duty after leave/sick/training at 08.00hrs, the recommendation contained in the Minutes to book them at 06hrs the following day to be implemented immediately.

(xvii)Timely crew review should be done to fill up the posts regularly.  DRM should be empowered to sanction posts.

(xviii)The materialization factor of crew is only 40% and hence the indenting should be 2.5 times the actual requirement.

(xix)The drivers should be protected from arrest after an accident as this causes anxiety and increases stress level of the drivers.

(xx)The Clear Standing Room to be increased in view of lengthy loads, both Goods and Coaching.  At many a stations the LP is finding it tense to clear the rear fouling at the same time not to pass the starter, in view of the absolutely narrow margin.  To start work in this direction, initially all stations to be identified where there is insufficient space is available to stop the train short of starter while clearing the rear fouling mark, both Goods and Coaching.  Thereafter the CSR to be increased, duly granting atleast 2 wagons distance as cushioning distance.

(xxi)Retirement age of loco running staff to be reduced to 55years.

19. PAYMENT OF PLB THROUGH BANK

                 It is vehemently opposed the mode of payment of Productivity Linked Bonus through cash instead of paying the same through Bank account of the employees.  This is unjust and intended to support exploitation of working class by certain recognized federations by forceful collection of contribution at the disbursement spot.  On one hand Railways have forced the employees to opt for payment of monthly wages through Bank account.  Those who had not opened Bank account were harassed by sending them cheque instead of paying cash.  Even PF Loans /withdrawals were converted to Bank payment mode.  The instructions of CVC to make all payments through Bank also is flouted by Railway Board.  Once an employee exercises his option to get wages through Bank, the administration cannot and should not unilaterally change such an arrangement as the same has the force of a contract.  No trade union can ask to either temporarily or permanently negate such a contract even for some select payments, especially when PLB is defined as wages.  This House condemns the payment of PLB through cash instead of sending the same to the Bank Account of the employees concerned at the behest of some trade unions.  This House authorizes its General Secretary or Joint General Secretary or Assistant General Secretary or Organising Secretary either jointly or severely (by designation or name) to pursue this issue at any level and if need be to initiate legal proceedings before appropriate authority/ Court of law to achieve payment of PLB through Bank Account of the employees concerned. 

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20. VCD ACTIVATION IN DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES

                   The instructions to treat VCD activation as SPAD is highly condemnable and to be withdrawn immediately.  Instead of setting right the working of VCD by providing proper bright flashing light and audible beeper/buzzer, the running staff are taken up under DAR treating the activation of VCD as SPAD.

21.PROGRAMME OF ACTION TO SOLVE GRIEVANCES ABOVE MENTIONED

                   This House has unanimously decided to “fast on duty/ off duty” on 15^th August 2012 to achieve the demands mentioned above.  If the demands are still not met, a Divisional Level Family Dharna will be organized in the month of September 2012.  The date of Family Dharna will be decided by ZWC.