AILRSA SWR 5th Zonal BGM resolutions

To

Sri. Pradeep Kumar Saxena,

General Manager,

South Western Railway,

Hubli.

Respected Sir, 

AILRSA 5^th Zonal Conference is held at Com. RS. Pandian Nagar, Rotary Centre, JLB Road, MYSURU on 11^th April 2015.

The Conference inaugurated by Sri. AMANULLA KHAN, All India President, All India insurance employees association.

Sri. MN Prasad, Secretary General AILRSA, Sri. T Hanumaiah Central Vice President AILRSA also attended the meeting.

The meeting unanimously elected the following members for the zonal committee .

POST	NAME	DESGN/DEPOT
President	SD Arnold	Retired LP UBL
Working President	R Surendran	LPM SBC
Vice President	Donal Raj	LPG CLR
Vice President	DS Niranjan	LPM SBC
Vice President	Nishad K	LPG SKLR
General Secretary	Ramesan K	LPP ASK
Joint Gen Secretary	Palash Ghosh	LPG HPT
Joint Gen Secretary	D Rajkumar	LPG SBC
Joint Gen Secretary	Sasi Kumar Nagappa	LPG MYS
Org. Secretary	K Rajesh	LPP BGM
Org. Secretary	KJ Renjith	LPG MYS
Org. Secretary	PAS Rao	LPM SBC
Treasurer	S Jagadeesan	LPM SBC
Asst. Treasurer	Suresh Kumar M	LPP ASK
Internal Auditor	MR Jayaram	LPP MYS
	ZEC MEMBERS
1.UBL Depot	Rajaneesh Kumar	ALP
2.CLR Depot	Bijoy Varghese	LPG
3.HPT Depot	CH Govinda Rao	CC
4.BGM Depot	Asok Xess	LPG
5.VSG Depot	Anurag MS	LPG
6.HRR Depot	BN Singh	LPP
7. JRU Depot	SK. Mahato	LPG
8.ASK Depot	Anand Kumar	LPG
9.SKLR Depot	Viswas P Karun	ALP
10.MYS Depot	Mahesh Kumar M	LPG
11.SBC Depot	V Krishnanand	LPG
12. SGT Depot	VV Suresh Kumar	LPG

The BGM has passed the following resolutions unanimously.

1. VICTIMIZATION OF STAFF IN THE NAME OF SPAD:

          Members of this union strongly believe that, administration is not taking sincere efforts to protect their staff against false allegations of SPAD and is taking partisan attitude in awarding punishments. There by their mere existence is at peril and are trying to run away from running duties. As a responsible trade union, we cannot keep quiet and warrant constructive action against such injustices against staff. If the administration is going ahead with such victimizations, we may be forced not believe on signals but work with extra precautions in the interest of protecting our jobs. This fear of SPAD reporting results in several inconveniences to travelling public. There is no mechanism put in place to prove the innocence of loco pilot when a SPAD occurs. In several cases Data Loggers have malfunctioned and stood as document to support the allegations against the loco pilots. Your good office may know that the data logger which is used against the loco pilot during SPAD is not a foolproof mechanism.   We request your good office to do needful to stop such victimizations to instill confidence in the minds of loco men. We request you to follow high power committee recommendations while dealing with real SPADS by taking employees past service into consideration.

2. AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN DUE TO INCREASED WORK LOAD:

Bangalore Division of All India Loco Running Staff Association understood that some unsafe practice of crew utilization is done in the depot. If such practices are continued, we can expect more SPAD cases in the near future. Your Intervention is solicited to check and stop such unsafe methods to make SBC Division free from accidents. Loco pilots utilized in pooling as leave reserve in SBC depot are forced to take all direction LRS for working in link 1&2. So they are working in 8 directions covering more than 3000km with two types of tractions, which is nonexistent in any other railway. No need to say about Type of locos, Number of Signals, L C gates, PSRs, Gradients, weather etc. There is an endurance limit for a human to remember such data for longer periods because of not working in all the directions continuously.

As the number of directions have increased, and used in leave reserve, they will be getting trains to a particular directions once in two or three months. As their LR will not lapse theoretically they have to work in that section with fear of SPADs, expecting unknown signals in the section in which they have not worked for long time. Not only this, caution order regarding new signals will be given for 10 days only. A person who have not worked in the section during these days is likely to commit SPAD. Maintaining separate leave reserve for Link 1&2 will solve the problems to certain extant. The recommendation to the divisional authorities regarding this is not yielded any positive result.

        So we request your good office to kindly look into this matter seriously and do needful to give necessary instructions to limit working directions and maintain leave reserve for link 1&2 separately. We expect and look forward for an accident free year 2015 with your leadership.

3. OPENING OF GOODS CREW DEPOT AT HUP:

SBC division is planning to open a goods crew depot at HUP and willingness letter was asked. Administration has cited operational convenience for the above. But overhead expenditure for maintaining a new depot without considering the advantages is going to be a huge burden for the administration. Equally staff will be put to hardship on posting at the above Depot owing to education of their wards, family relocating to a different state with a different language etc. More over if posted at the above depot, many will not relocate their family and will be travelling from Bangalore, resulting in inadequate rest and more accidents in future. Without opening the above crew depot problem can be addressed by increasing staff strength at SGT and moving crew pilot to HUP by any convenient trains.

4. REQUEST FOR CREW CHANGE AT DMM FOR TRAINS TO GTL & DHNE:

All India Loco Running Staff Association demands crew changing at DMM for all trains towards GTL & DHNE in view of increased SPAD cases in the above section after the extended working started in the above section. A scrutiny of the SPAD cases will reveal that cases were less or nil crew change was available at DMM. A new running room may be constructed at DMM.

5. COMPENSATORY RESTS FOR THE LAPSED PR’s:

We have submitted several representations regarding non-sanctioning of legitimate periodical rests for loco running staff of SBC& SGT. We have received several complaints in this regard and erring officials nominated to ensure implementation of HOER shall be taken up duly verifying documents/ records related to this injustice. Here we would like to stress that PR cannot lapse at any point of time and as per HOER, the employees are eligible for a CR for each lapsed PR. Such violations will hamper smooth industrial relation and will act as a catalyst for unrest among the employees and is against safety.

6. INADEQUATE FOOT PLATE TRAINING FOR NEW ALPS IN SWR:

           Railway board has prescribed 20 days handling for induction course of ALPs as per the training module. But Railway Administration of SWR has curtailed this foot plate training by joining Road and Signals learning with handling. An ALP undergoing this dual training will be concentrating only on signals and road; will be least bothered about handling. This will result in inadequate training and they will be an unfinished product. This practice was introduced when ALP position was acute. As this is a violation in training norms, we request your good self to separate LRS from handling and may be given separately in view of competency of the ALPS and safety.

7. IMPROVE THE RUNNING ROOM CONDITIONS:

              Condition of running room has to be improved by providing Air Conditioners in all the running rooms. Most of the running rooms in Indian railways has started converted to ac running rooms. The neighbouring konkan railway has already converted their running room to AC. This is very important in view of the repeated cases of SPAD and the unbearable heat prevails. As the staff is getting only less time to take rest in the out station, this is very important  to increase the efficiency of the running staff. The quality of subsidiary meals to be improved by duly increasing the subsidy amount which can only ensure the good quality food for which the RBO that Rs.27/- or 90% of the cost of meal whichever is less to be modified to 90% of cost of meal shall be subsidized.

Many running rooms are maintained like dormitory with insufficient wash basin, urinals, toilets & bathrooms (VSG, BJP, DMM, ASK etc). T

8. ABOLISION OF CASTLE ROCK DEPOT:

Castle rock transfer has become a nightmare for running staff. The proposal for abolition of this depot by strengthening Vasco depot is not yet implemented. Running staff is not ready to go to castle rock depot due to the inherent difficulties and lack of facilities like proper quarters or private accommodation, medical, transport and educational facilities. Running staff is forced to go to castle rock fearing of revenge and administration is treating them like baggers’ by forcing them to sleep on the floor , eight members in one hall like room in  dormitory or five members in one quarters just like animals. They cannot take proper rest due to this community living. If anybody fell ill, he has to stay in the same room with other members which are a potential threat to others.  The right of the staff to stay with their family, to impart good education to their children , right to proper and timely health care etc.. is denied for the staff staying at here.

This inhuman treatment towards running staff should be stopped. Castle rock depot should be closed and Vasco depot should be strengthened.

9. LOW QUALITY WALKIE TALKIE SETS

Loco Pilots over South Western Railway have been supplied with walkie talkie sets made by MOTOROLA and KENWOOD. Out of this KENWOOD walkie talkie sets are of poor quality. It does not serve its purpose. Communication is difficult even with guard and loco pilots, leave alone long distant communication. This set also makes unnecessary noise while keeping on the control stand of general locos due to radiation which adds the mental stress of loco pilots. Hence this KENWOOD walkie talkie sets should be replaced with good quality walkie talkies like MOTOROLA.

As per the instructions from the higher level, The asst. loco pilots working in the GHAT section should also be issued with walkie talkie due to the peculiar working system and terrain. There is grave shortage of walkie talkie sets in castle rock to issue walkie talkie sets to the Asst. Loco Pilots. Sufficient number of walkie talkie sets should be made available at castle rock.

10. OXYGEN CYLINDERS AT KULEM-CASTLE-ROCK- GHAT SECTION

Kulem –castle rock ghat section being the second toughest ghat section in India , three WDG4 loco motives has been attached  as banker loco. The loco pilot and asst. loco pilots and asst. loco pilots who are working in this locomotives are suffering from large amount of smoke emits from the two leading and three banker loco motives when it passes through the tunnels. They are unable to bear the smoke, often they reach to the brink of suffocation by the time it passes through the tunnel. If the train strands in the tunnels the locos will be in working condition and the crew cannot run either side to save themselves out of the smoke. This situation has not been studied by railways and if any such situation emerges the death of the crew is fore sure.

Hence a detailed study has to be conducted on this subject and oxygen cylinders should be supplied to the banker loco crew

11. UNIFORM ALLOWANCE:

Uniform is not supplied to the staff every year and disbursement of stitching charge is improper and insufficient. The quality of the uniform material supplied by the railways is very bad to such extend that most of the people either do not want to accept  it due to its poor quality and too much darkness in colour.. The material gets faded after few months of usage; hence most of the staff uses their own dress while on duty.

We demand instead of supplying low quality uniform material, Uniform Allowance be distributed to the staff, in turn they would purchase quality material and stitch the uniform, or else high quality uniform material should be supplied to the staff.

12. LACK OF QUARTERS:

There is no quarters facility depots like Bijapur, Belgaum,Vasco-Da-Gama, Castle Rock , Tornagllu, And Hospet. Sufficient number of quarters should be constructed in this area for the staff.

The Maintenance of Railway quarters is very poor, in many places dilapidated quarters still exist.

 

13. CLOSURE OF JVSL REST ROON IN HUBBALI DIVISION.

The Rest room provided by railways in JVSL in Hospet depot of Hubbali division is not habitable due to the reasons that it is situated in the middle of highly air polluted area. The Rest room is situated in the middle of running lines which it is a threat to the life of the staff. Staff has to remain inside the rest room always due to the high air pollution in the surroundings. Objection from the staff that they cannot take proper rest in that rest room, an increase of mental stress while staying in that rest room has fell on deaf ears.

The construction of Running Room at Tornagallu is going on for the last seven years which could not be completed yet. This shows the apathy of the administration towards the staff.

We demand the closure of the rest room at JVSL and speed up the construction of the running room at TORNAGALLU so that any number of staff can be accommodated there.

14. NEW SIGNALLING SYSTEM:

The changes made in the signaling system are a curse than a boon as far as the loco pilots are concerned. The concept of pre warning is failed in the new system.  Previously the loco pilot was fore sure that if the distant signal is ATTENTION then home signal will be CAUTION with route indicator. Now it may be main line or loop line. Suppose the route indicator or its bulbs fails, loco pilots will see only main light of the home signal, and may mistake that the train would be received to main line, due to the absence of route indicator. He will come to know about the loop line only when he approaches the point, and may enter the loop line with high speed because he was under the impression that the train would be received to the main line and there is a chance of derailment. This fault has already been reported from various divisions.

Due to this reasons loco pilots has started approaching the points with the speed of the loop line despite being the home signal shows MAIN LINE , under the impression that routing might have failed and it causes time loss for trains.

We request your good office to take suitable measures to avoid such circumstances as if such a situation happens the loco pilot will be the ultimate sufferer as per the railway practice.

15.15 DAYS LEAVE SANCTIONING POWER SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL CCC’S.

 

The majority of the running staff of SWR hails from outside Karnataka and consumes almost 3 to 4 days for journey itself while proceeding to their native place on leave. For the out of state running staff, to spend at least a week at their native place and with their family members, at least 15 days of leave IS required when they are going to native. Unfortunately it is understood that all CCC’s has been deprived of the leave sanctioning power . For a leave of  short  duration, crew is forced to go the officers to meet in person.  So it is very urgent to empower the depot official in charge himself to sanction a minimum of 15 days leaves/NH judiciously, working under him.

      

16.CREW SHOULD BE TAKEN BACK WITHIN 36 HRS FROM OUT STATION: Railway board issued orders vide Lr.No.E(II)2009/hoer/17.Dt 28.02.2010. (RBE 37/2010) is for reducing the absence of running staff from their Hqrs to 36 Hrs. But in this division Hubli and Hospet depot Goods crew  are put at out station for 72/96 hours causing mental agony which reduces their  concentration on running duties and owing to which the running staff are restless and their social life are affected badly.  This is a situation which would force the staff to streets to protest against this.

17. REDUCE THE DUTY HOURS TO 08 HRS

        At present the loco running staffs are forced to work unlimited hours every day on one pretext or other. The recent instructions from railway board to restrict the duty hours to ten hours by arranging relief to the crew at proper time is not followed in many divisions especially in Hubli division. The data of duty hours reported to the head quarters is manipulated. Even now there are cases where crew is harassed for asking relief after ten hours. In Hubli division a PC message has been issued to inform after completion of eight hours duty. Even after information, crew is made to work beyond fourteen hours without arranging proper relief. The parliamentary standing committee has recommended implementing 08 hrs duty for all running staff from Sign On to Sign Off. So, the duty hours may be fixed for running staff irrespective of the grade, at the maximum of 8 hours from Signing ON to Signing OFF.

      

We hope that your good office will intervene in this matters and issue necessary instructions to the concerned to settle the problems of employees. We extend our whole hearted support to make this railway a profitable and accident free railways in India.

Thanking You                                                         Yours Faithfully,

Arsikere

24.04.2015                                                             (RAMESHAN K)

Copy to:

AGM, CME, CMPE, COM, CSO, CPO- Hubli

DRM, ADRM, Sr DME, Sr DPO- UBL, MYS & SBC

DEE OP /SBC