KNOW THE FACTS AND DEVELOPMENT-Notice matter

ALL INDIA LOCO RUNNING STAFF ASSOCIATION

South Western Zone.

“THE Sparrow is sorry for the peacock at the burden of its tail"

                                                                       -Rabindranath Tagore.

KNOW THE FACTS AND DEVELOPMENT

Dear loco men,

                Most of you are aware about the recent developments in trade union activities by AILRSA which is at a threshold of victory. Recently we have seen the adverse comments of AIRF leader Umraomol Purohit about National Industrial Tribunal (NIT) and it was correctly explained to all workers by AILRSA notice in all 16 zones in different languages. Due to the impact of that notice AIRF has conducted August kranti, divisional demonstrations on 09.08.12 all over India. This is also a victory of AILRSA, as AILRSA could push AIRF to an agitational program on the demands of AILRSA, since every loco men know that AIRF had not raised most of those demands in yesteryears.

                On 02.08.12 NFIR has proposed  a proposal with 80% up gradation to next grade and backed out from their previous demand of 100% 4600 GP for LP(M) as they are now asking 80% LP(M) in 4600 GP with Rs 1000 onerous allowance. Like AIRF, NFIR also not demanding an improvement in Grade pay for ALP and continuing the stand taken in the 2^nd Departmental Anomaly Committee even though an NIT is formed and every body expects some improvement. Since this matter is with NIT and both AIRF/NFIR having no say at NIT AILRSA feels all these are a vain exercise.

                NRMS, the BMS affiliated union in SWR is playing regional and caste card instead of highlighting the genuine grievances of the workers. While the entire running staff of Bangalore was on war path against the proposed shifting of crew depot to SGT, they stand with the administration.

                Similarly, IRLRO also propagating some false information about AILRSA through their notice. IRLRO still claims that 13.08.1973 strike victory of AILRSA as the victory of then president Com. MR. Sabapathi alone and not the victory of workers of AILRSA who struck work in 1973 which is ridiculous. No doubt Com MR. Sabapathi was a very eminent leader of AILRSA but after leaving AILRSA he failed to prove his leadership in last 18 years after formation of IRLRO, and the reasons for that should be pondered by IRLRO members. After formation of IRLRO, it was not able to penetrate into the strongholds and even some weak holds of AILRSA functioning in around 62 divisions out of 69 divisions of Indian Railway. But from Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaipur divisions many IRLRO cadres joined AILRSA on their own. The IRLRO units of Bangalore and Trichy divisions are not able to emerge and prove themselves in divisional and zonal level shows their un-popularity among workers.

                1981 strike was not lost due to CPI (M) controlled leadership but only a negative phase in the history of trade union movement. Every unions will have Up’s and Down’s and cannot expect victory always and simply blaming a union after a failure of strike is also not fair as done by Com.MR. Sabapathi. AILRSA fought the removal cases relentlessly  and won the reinstatement after 13 years with back wages and pension which today holds the workers together in AILRSA all over India even though the then President deserted the union.

              AILRSA is not controlled by any political party but are using the unconditional support of CPI (M), CPI, Shivasena, BJP and AIADMK area wise to project our problems in parliament. In a country ruled by politicians no trade union can be insulated from politicians and if any union does, they cannot project anything in parliament and keep on writing letters, meeting with railway officers and asking questions in RTI as claimed by IRLRO. Any trade union should be able to mobilize workers to resist the trespass of the management into the right of workers and prepare the workers to dare the management, but IRLRO has miserably failed on that front. Even though IRLRO won the 46 hours PR case they are unable to avail the 46 hours PR  through mass movement of workers and expecting it on a  silver plate by management even through management still not  appealed in supreme court. Since HOER review is one of the subject with NIT which includes 46 hour PR, continuous night duties, duty hours with intensive classification, outstation detention, home station rest etc in one stroke, the PR case of IRLRO is not more relevant as one more stage of appeal also pending. The SPAD minutes also spelled out a 40 hours calendar day rest somewhat near to 46 hours PR and better than existing 30 hours PR.

              The intensive classification case already won by AILRSA/SR in RLC/MAS and railway has appealed to CLC/NDLS, MACP case also won by AILRSA/SR from Hon CAT/ERS. Break for meals and natural call approved in DREU PNM of SR put up by AILRSA/SR are under consideration of railway board. AILRSA also opposed the bureaucratic committee on HOER by Railway Board and got a reply from railway board, which is published in the “Hey market memorial” book of AILRSA memorandum to high power committee. Now since the NIT taken up HOER issue also, AILRSA is not bothered about the bureaucratic committee. The mileage rate issue according to RAC 1980 formula not mentioned in IRLRO notice also a terms of reference in NIT which is the biggest injustice thrust upon us in connivance of both federations by railway board by mere doubling old rates and 25% increase on it while the TA rate is Rs 425 now.

                When IRLRO is accusing AILRSA of having retired employees as leaders, IRLRO is having retired employees in the name of patrons and Honorary and in effect both are the same. AILRSA constitution permits only 10% retired employees in leadership and once upon a time they were in service as leaders. Since a divisional secretary itself unable to reach out every where in division as a working employee, to reach out all nook and corner of nation, AILRSA preferred retired leaders to work or else union work cannot go forward smoothly and effectively. On the issue of press release, every body reading news papers will be aware about the news columns by AILRSA.  Even though AILRSA is much ahead on press we still do not believe that a union can be run on that alone.

                   AILRSA knows the difficulty of running a trade union in the era of Globalisation and Liberalisation and not interested to attack other unions but is compelled to clarify the questions raised by IRLRO. Some IRLRO leaders requested for merging with AILRSA and were welcomed by our Secretary General but in course of deliberations tried to dictate the norms and terms of IRLRO on AILRSA which was not acceptable and unification never happened. IRLRO has every right to function and continue as they like but should not try to accuse falsely for petty gains. Hence AILRSA is requesting all the loco running staff to sincerely and correctly assess all the unions around them and take a correct decision based on facts. AILRSA SWR organized a GM office march on 08.08.2012 and submitted a memorandum to the General Manager demanding to implement the SPAD minutes suggestions. AILRSA will take up more programs on SPAD minutes and prepare the workers to avail the possible provisions and requesting the loco running staff to join this endeavor irrespective of union affiliations to achieve our demands for a better future.  

AILRSA SWR membership campaigning is on progress.

Join AILRSA, fight for justice.           Working Class unity Zindabad.

Bangalore, 21.08.2012