Railway staff begin 60-hour relay fast

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT THE HINDU  TIRUCHI, MAY 09, 2018 

SRMU members observing fast in front of Tiruchi railway junction. | Photo Credit: A. Muralitharan

In support of a charter of demands

A section of railway employees affiliated to Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU)b egan their 60-hour relay fast here on Tuesday to press for their charter of demands.

Employees of the union working in the Tiruchi Railway Divisional office, besides those in the Golden Rock Railway Workshop and Diesel Loco Shed, participated in the fast, which began around 6 a.m. in front of the railway junction.

The fast concludes at 6 p.m. on May 10. The fast is in response to the call given by SRMU earlier.

One of the major demands of the union is scrapping the new pension scheme and restoration of guaranteed pension/family pension.

The union has also urged the railway administration to increase the minimum basic pay and change of ‘Fitment Formula’/‘Pay Matrix’ accordingly. It wants an end to its attempts to privatise railway workshops functioning within the Southern Railway zone and corporatise railway hospitals.

The union has also expressed its opposition to engaging retired railwaymen to fill up vacancies and demanded that the railway administration withdraw its decision to close down railway schools.

It has also urged it to stop selling railway properties on 33 years and 99 years lease basis.

The fast was led by S. Veerasekaran, SRMU assistant general secretary area charge of Golden Rock and Tiruchi.