Individual letter

Matter for individual protest letter,

Sir, Date:

Due to irresponsible and adamant attitude of Railway authority, the RLC (C) New Delhi, conciliation on the genuine demands of Loco Running Staff of Indian Railway ended with failure after a prolong discussion for about 1 ½ Yrs. result of which the dissatisfaction, resentment and disappointment amongst us.

I therefore request your kind intervention into the matter. So that matter is referred to industrial tribunal for adjudication to have industrial peace in the Railways.

Thanks,

To, yours’ faithfully

Hon’blePM Name. ___________

Hon’ble Minister for Labour Sign.____________

Hon’ble Minister for Railways Desg. ___________

Station __________

Rly_____________

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Letter to Labour Minister

To
Hon’ble Minister for Labour,
Shram Sakthi Bhavan,
Govt of India,
New Delhi.

Respected Sir,

This Association represents the loco running staff of Indian Railways.

For the past two and a half years we are demanding to redress our grievances related to injustice is done by VI CPC before the Railway Board. We held various peaceful Trade Union activities before the Railway administration, several memorandums were placed before them. The Ministry of Labour seized the matter for conciliation. The adamant stand taken by the Railway Board in not conceding the demands, the conciliation before the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central) New Delhi, ended with failure. This non-co-operative attitude and casual approach of Railway authority to our genuine demands has also been experienced by the RLC (C) too and has been recorded in the RLC proceeding. This attitude of Railway Management is nothing but a serious blow to the well settled democratic norms to solve the grievances of the workers peacefully rather a provocation to the workers for agitation, which we do not favour in the interest of national economy, traveling passengers and Rail users. The railway Management at one side could not given any sound reason for not conceding the demands but on the other-side dragging the issues either one or another unreasonable pretext. It is also unfortunate that Hon’ble MR is also turned her deaf ear to the genuine, justified and the reasonable grievances of Loco Running Staff of Indian Railways. In order to have a glimpse of the grievances of loco running staff of Indian Railways, we give a gist of them before your esteemed office.

The grievances are as follows.

The recommendation of the sixth CPC to allow a grade pay of Rs.1900/- to the post of Assistant Loco Pilot, that is just Rs.100 more than the lowest category of Central Govt employees, is a heart burning issue. The responsibilities attached to the post in running their train safely and punctually, their recruitment qualification prescribed, the highest medical standard that has to be maintained, the arduousness in performing the duty of Asst Loco Pilot is far higher than a lowest post in central Govt employee, in-addition, same Trg. Same responsibility and same punishment as like as Loco Pilot they have to bear, if any thing goes wrong, A mere Rs.100/- more than the lowest post is not commensurate to the work entrusted to them. Therefore we demanded to raise the Grade pay of Rs.1900/- to Rs.2800/- . Many categories in Railways especially the Goods Train Guard, who were in equal renumeration with them prior to IV CPC were elevated to Grade pay of Rs.2800/- the other posts in Railway and in central Govt establishment who were equal remuneration to them were found elevation to the Grade pay of Rs.2800, whereas the Asst Loco Pilot does not see a similar treatment to them, though the present nature of working attached to the post warrant to raise the Grade pay to Rs.2800, and thus discrimination and injustice is done to them.

Admitting the position the Railway Board had raised the Grade Pay from Rs.1900 to Rs.2400 for the 80% of ALP with effect from 01-05-2010 meeting our demand half way. Our demand to raise the Grade Pay to Rs.2800 is genuine and absolutely warranted on the reason enumerated above.
2. The Sixth CPC recommended to merge the Grade of Rs.5000-8000,5500-9000,6500-10500 and allowed Grade Pay of Rs.4200 to all. Equally it recommended that if functional difference existing between these Grades, merger should not be effected and distinct Grade Pay be given to each grade.

After considering the issue the Government decided to merge the first two Grades i.e. Rs.5000-8000 and Rs.5500- 9000 and allowed Grade Pay of Rs.4200 to them and third Grade of Rs.6500-10500 had allowed with the Grade Pay of Rs.4600.But in the case of Running Staff, Loco Pilot(Goods) in scale Rs.5000-8000,the Loco Pilot(Pass) in scale Rs.5500-9000 and the Loco Pilot(Mail) in scale Rs.6000-9800 not been considered in the light of the Sixth CPC recommendation that if functional difference exists it need not be merged. Still these three posts though functional difference do exists and elevation from one post to another considered as promotion involving selection are placed in the same Grade Pay of Rs.4200.In the light of the above position we demanded a different and distinctive Grade Pay be allowed to these three posts. Sir, to what extent it is justified to allot only one GP of Rs. 4200/- when all the grade of LPs has its functional differences and is a promotional channel where the selection is also involved. The Railway Administration so far did not give any sound reason for not conceding the demands but dragging the issues either one or another pretext.

3. The Sixth CPC allowed an onerous duty allowance ,considering the nature of duty attached to the category of Running Staff, but confined the post of Loco Pilot(Mail) and Loco pilot(Pass).It is our humble suggestion that the duty performed by the other category of Loco Running Staff, ie. The Loco Pilot (Goods), Shunting and Assistant Loco Pilot is equally onerous in nature, therefore all the categories of Running Staff should be allowed with the onerous duty allowance instead of confining to two categories. And also we demand that this should be treated as Pay and not as a mere allowance.

4. The duty hours, rest period, etc. are dealt with under the Hours of Employment Regulation in the Railways. The same is applicable for Loco Running Staff, but basing on some subsidiary rules in corporated by the Railways, the duty hours, rest etc. has been prescribed quite differently to others. In the HOER there is no upper limit prescribed for daily duty hours, in the hope the management will not exploit and force the workers to perform beyond certain extend. The factory Act, Plantation Workers Act and in most of such Acts there is a prescribed daily limit of work varying from 8 to 9 hours with a break of half an hour to one hour. But such provision not been in HOER of the Railways. But a limit of duty hours prescribed for a fortnight at 96 hours/104 hours. Taking this lacunae in the Act, they regularly extract work for 14 hours to 20 hours at a stretch from Loco Running Staff. The Periodical Rest (Weekly Rest ) for all other workers ranging from 42 hours to 54 hours, but in the case of Loco Running Staff it was prescribed to 22 hours or 30 hours that too no weekly, but monthly basis. To extract the fortnightly limit of duty hours of 96 hours and 104 hours, the Loco Running Staff are subjected to be in duty in all the 365 days of the year. It may be seen as violation of Human Rights.

It may be noted that prescribing duty hours, rest, etc. is the prerogative of the Ministry of Labour. No management either in private or the State have any right to prescribe Hours Of Employment to its workers. Though the HOER are promulgated by the Ministry of Labour, changes were made by the Railway Board without the concurrence of Ministry of Labour and they exploit the Staff. Allowing unfettered power to the management to make rule in regard to Hours of Employment will give amble room to exploit the worker and drive them to the status of slaves. Therefore the Authority to make rule were entrusted with the Ministry of Labour. This cardinal rule has been neglected and the Railway Board plays havoc in the life of innocent workers and Ministry of Labour were made mere spectator. In-addition, the Railway has gone in a vast technological change for which the concentration of mind of a Loco Running Staff has been increased many fold. This present HOER is framed some 50 Yrs back when the average speed of a Goods Train is 30/35 KMPH, load of train (Goods) was 1800T, average speed of a coaching train was 40/45 KMPH, load was for 12/14 bogies but now the average speed of goods train is 50/55 KMPH, for M/Exp goes up to 75KMPH, load of goods trains, goes up to 5000T and for coaching to 24/26 Bogies. In one spell of duty about 400 to 425 Signal posts have to be confronted. A Signal post is to be passed now each after 2/3 minutes not like past days when a Signal Post was to be confronted each and after 10/12 Minutes.

Taking all these into consideration and the sufferings of the workers the Union placed the demand to review the Hours of Employment Regulations of Railways employees by a judicial review committee. The matter came before the National Council of JCM and the JCM came to an agreement on the matter on 14-02-2006 that the Hours of Employment Regulations for the Railway will be reviewed by a Judicial Committee, but nothing is done so far. On this matter too, the Railway Management did not spell out specifically in RLC (C) conciliation and dragged the issues.

Years were passed, the delay to implement the JCM agreement, gave enough time to Railway Board to manipulate. Now the Railway Board proposed for an in-house committee as reflected from their reply in RLC (C) conciliation that is too, in very unspecific terms, which is nothing but a deviation form their own commitment.

Sir, this is not fair, that Hours of Employment is a matter to be decided by the management whether they are private or state whatever forum they constitute.

Besides, we wish to point out that on 14-08-1973 then Minister of Labour after arriving an agreement with agitating Loco Running Staff assured in the floor of parliament that “the Loco Running Staff need not work more than 10 hours from signing on to signing off at stretch”. This is an assurance from the Government of India that should be honored and implemented. Accordingly orders were issued by the Ministry of Railways on 31-08-1978 restricting the duty hours to 10 hours from signing on to signing off for Loco Running Staff. But in 1992 the Railway Board, disregarding the assurance given by the Parliament, ordered and imposed the duty hours to 13 hours for Loco Running Staff misrepresenting a Ernakulam CAT’s order on the issue thus results mockery of Parliamentary democracy. It is therefore demanded to review the HOER by a judiciary Review Committee to have a safe, operation in the Railway.

5. By the nature of duty the Loco Running Staff normally be out of their headquarters on most of the days in a month. The Railway Board assumed the absence from head quarters in a month is for 20 days.

Any Government servant absenting from headquarters in course of employment is entitled to get TA on daily basis i.e. Fixed at the rate of rs.340 per day for those who are in Grade Pay Rs.4200.Thus the Loco Running Staff whose Grade Pay is Rs.4200 are entitled for 20 days TA at the same rate of Rs.340 per day.

But the Loco Running Staff were not paid TA as given to the other staff.
but it is paid through a scheme of Running Allowance.

The Gist of Running Allowance scheme is that “30% of the Basic Pay+20 days TA were divided by National average KM that have to be earned by the Loco Running Staff ie.5100KM and thus decided the rate for 100 KM.

The formula adopted for the past three decades is as follows:
The sum of the 30% of the mean of the basic pay+20 days TA is divided by 5100 KM (National average KM) and multiplied by 100.

From 01/09/2008, when the rate of TA is revised for all the staff, the running allowance rate was also revised. While doing so, with the same formula, the Railway Board made certain unwarranted modifications which caused a serious anomaly.

Instead of taking the TA rate at Rs.340/- for those whose Grade Pay is Rs.4200/- , they took the TA rate of Rs.210/- to calculate the rate of running allowance, discriminating from other Central Government employee, this was done before the announcement made by the Government on TA revision. The Railway assumed that the TA rate of Rs.105 in Sixth CPC will be raised to double; they took the TA rate as Rs.210 to decide the rate of Running Allowance. Subsequently the Government announced the TA rate as Rs.340, in different to the assumption of Railway Board. Under these circumstances we demand to calculate the Running Allowance under the formula with TA rates as Rs.340 instead of Rs.210 for Loco Pilots and with Rs.210 instead of Rs.110 for ALP as assumed by the Railway Board. Removing the discrimination, the Running Allowance rate be modified from 01-01-2006 when pay structure is effected to allow 30% pay element as done after V CPC.

Added to that while calculating the rate of Running Allowance, instead of taking the mean of the basic pay the Railway Board took the minimum of the Basic pay. Thus they denied the 30% of basic pay as pay for those who are in the higher basic pay in the new pay structure. The President declared that 30% basic pay is treated as pay element in the running allowance for loco running staff. Thus taking the minimum of basic pay is in violation of President of India’s order which is statutory in nature. Sir, to what extent it is justified not to allow Rs 340/- the rate TA to the employee whose GP is Rs. 4200/- and Rs. 210/- to them whose GP is below Rs. 4200/- why this discrimination to Loco Running Staff who are giving blood to maintain the train services in the Railway. The Railway management here also failed to give any reason for not conceding the demand but dragging caused for a serious resentment. The Railway Board here in this matter has taken a very peculiar stand that to review the rate of Running Allowance the question of Pay element is also to be reviewed which is nothing but attempt to divert the issues. The pay element and the TA rate is two different things has already got the approval of President of India. It is worth while to mention here that the Pay element was up-to 75% earlier that was subsequently reduced to 45% and then to 30% and so we are already subjected to a reduction. To review the pay element, the job has to be reviewed which has never be done so far, and then pay has to be fixed accordingly. Sir, this argument of Railway Management has no sound reason but an attempt to divert the issues.

Therefore we demand to calculate the rate of running allowance based on the formula that the 30% of MEAN of the basic pay+20 days TA at the rate of Rs.340/- divided by national average KM of 5100 KM.

All these demands were placed in the conciliation and the conciliation was failed due to the adamant attitude of the Railway Board. We request your goodself to refer the matter for adjudication before the National Tribunal.

Added to the above demand, we plead to implement the Industrial Tribunal/ Central Labour Court of Chennai award in ID case no. 1/2008 delivered on 31st July 2009 and also published in the Govt Gazette of Aug/Sept 2009, in which the payment of enhanced rate of DA allowing 30% pay element to the Dearness Pay is awarded to the Running staff of Indian Railways.

To draw the attention of Ministry of Labour, Railway and finances as well as PMO, to express our resentment, anguish and demand to refer it to adjudication, the Central Working Committee meeting of our Association held on 12/10/2010 called upon its workers
1) To submit an individual appeal to your office in the third week of November,

2) To hold demonstration before various Regional Labour Commissioner’s offices in the country on 1st December 2010 and submit a memorandum addressed to Hon’ble Minister of Labour.

3) a delegation of AILRSA will meet the Labour Minister at his pleasure on 1st December 2010 and explain the grievances for redressal. I therefore request your honour to grant an opportunity to meet your honour in a delegation at your conveyance for personal hearing. I shall be highly obliged if an intimation in this regard is given to me.

4) if no redressal is forth coming, to hold a massive Rally and sit in Dharna before the Ministry of Labour at New Delhi in the month of February 2011 during the Budget session of the Parliament.

We reasonably expect from your Hon’ble office that our grievances will be settled amicably.


Yours faithfully,


(M.N.Prasad)
Secretary General,
Copy to: - AILRSA
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
Hon’ble Minister for Railways
Hon’ble Minister for Finance
Hon’ble Chief Labour Commissioner

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Letter to MP's

(Matter for the letter to be given to MPs before the Feb 2011 Rally/Dharna)

To
Sri. ………………………………
Hon’ble Member of Parliament.

Respected Sir,

You were aware that the Loco Running Staff of Indian Railways are agitating for the past two years to redress their grievances amicably.

The matter was seized by the Labour Ministry and a conciliation proceeding were held for the past one and half year before the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central) New Delhi.

In the conciliation proceeding the Railway Board, in fact, not rejected any of the demands abruptly but held a stand that the grievances are under active consideration before various higher forums of the Railway Board. But the delay to redress the grievances has never been answered.

Finding no response, the conciliation ended in failure on 11/10/2010.

Our grievances and the issue involved were detailed in the letter addressed to the Hon’ble Minister for Labour, Govt of India, a copy of the letter is attached herewith to have a glimpse of the entire issue.

We proposed for a massive Rally and Dharna before the Ministry of Labour in the Budget session in February 2011 at New Delhi, the date of which will be intimated later.

We earnestly request your goodself to address our Dharna at New Delhi and persuade the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Labour to intervene and redress the grievances.



Yours faithfully,

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Central Circular

Central Circular dated 12/10/2010

Sub: Proceedings of meeting of Zonal Secretaries and members of Conciliation committee at AILRSA Bhavan, Ghaziabad on 12/10/2010.

Meeting was presided by Com. L. Mony, Central President Com. Secretary General explained the fate of the long drawn conciliation meetings before RLC / New Delhi which was started on 23rd Nov 2009. The Railway Board was willfully dragging the issue stating every time that the issue was under consideration of this or that forum. This time too they repeated the same slogan. The RLC himself was forced to criticize the negligent attitude of the Railway Board on the issues and finally the conciliation process ended in failure on 11.10.2010. This meeting calls upon all the Branches, Division and Zonal Committees to organize vehement protest immediately against 1) the lethargic attitude shown by the Railway Board towards the genuine grievances of the most vital category of staff in Railways, 2) the negligence shown towards the constitutional body under the Labour Ministry (RLC) for democratic peaceful settlement on industrial dispute and also 3) the irresponsible and the un-cared attitude towards the traveling public Rail users and the common people if at all resentment of workers goes beyond its limit and burst it out. Since some of the Zones could not remain present in the meeting so might not be possible to lodge protest immediately so you will comply the decision as given below in item No: 1, 2 now along with other decisions.

Now the legal position dictates, whenever conciliation failed, the issue be referred before an independent authority, the Nation Tribunal, for a decision of the demand that have to be decided by the Ministry of Labour.

At this juncture we have to pressurize the Ministry of Labour, to refer our grievance to a Nation Tribunal for a decision to resolve the issues.

The rules under Industrial Dispute Act, refrains us not to resort for any agitation till a decision taken by the Ministry of Labour to refer the issue to a National Tribunal or otherwise.

Therefore we insist before the Ministry of Labour to send the matter for Adjudication as early as possible.

To draw the attention of the Ministry of Labour, we have to stage certain programmes as follows:


1) Protest demonstration at all depots and sending letter to the Prime Minister, Railway Minister and Labour Minister (Copy enclosed) on 1st Nov 2010.

2) Individual letter to the Central Labour Minister between 15th and 20th Nov 2010 (Matter enclosed)

3) Demonstration before RLC by the zonal committees in their respective area submit memorandum addressed to the Labour Minster through RLC and sending letter to Labour Minister, Prime Minister and Railway Minister (Copy enclosed) asking the Labour Ministry to refer the demands for adjudication on 1st Dec 2010.

4) Central Committee delegation to Central Labour Minister in 1st week of Dec 2010.

5) Rally and Dharna before the Labour Ministry New Delhi in February 2011 to persuade the Central Labour Ministry.

6) Zonal Committee meetings to be held in January duly intimating the Secretary General, to explain, educate and empower the cadres.

7) Posters to be printed centrally and supplied.

8) Notice and poster for Zonal demonstration to be printed by the Zonal Committee.

9) Send letter to all Members of Parliament by the Secretary General and local delegation by Divisional Committees to local MPs before Delhi programme.

10) Covering letter for MP enclosed in which the letter addressed to the Labour Minister to be attached.

11) All zones are requested to help E. Co. Railway for fighting out the 7 removals from service by extending a financial assistance of Rs. 1000/- per month on A/c No: 2210000100098368 Panjab National Bank Jatni, Dist – Khurda, Orrissa, of Com. S. K. Biswal Zonal treasurer E. Co. Railway.

PREPARE SERIOUSLY for a indefinite Hunger Strike after February 2011 Rally and Dharna at New Delhi, if our grievances are not been settled. Every effort taken to explain the reasons for launching a Hunger Strike to the workers.


Yours’ Comradely



(M. N. Prasad)
Secretary General
AILRSA
Note: - I am sorry for sending the decision a little beat late due to my sickness.


M. N. Prasad






Matter for individual protest letter,

Sir, Date:


Due to irresponsible and adamant attitude of Railway authority, the RLC (C) New Delhi, conciliation on the genuine demands of Loco Running Staff of Indian Railway ended with failure after a prolong discussion for about 1 ½ Yrs. result of which the dissatisfaction, resentment and disappointment amongst us.
I therefore request your kind intervention into the matter. So that matter is referred to industrial tribunal for adjudication to have industrial peace in the Railways.


Thanks,




To, yours’ faithfully


Hon’ble PM Name. ___________
Hon’ble Minister for Labour Sign.____________
Hon’ble Minister for Railways Desg. ___________
Station __________
Rly_____________

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CWC Resolutions

Decisions of the CWC meeting held on 26th and 27th June 2010

1. The Central Working Committee meeting of AILRSA held at its Central Camp Office ,Ghaziabad, on 26th and 27th June 2010 expressed its vehement protest against the FTC report being the same is prepared with pre occupied mind, keeping blind and deaf to the representations and justifications given from our side and misinterpreting all the facts and hence denying justice to entire Loco Running Staff.

The FTC is appointed to resolve the grievances of Loco Running Staff avoiding the possible delay in finalizing the issue through the procedural departmental anomaly committee. But the FTC shirked its responsibility on the plea of departmental anomaly committee, although the terms and references of anomaly committee do not cover all of our demands.

They had wrongly stated that the Running Allowance rates are doubled with effect from 01-01-2006 (Para 3.2.3).they stated the revision of Running Allowance is a package that cannot be disturbed where the fact lies the recommendation for doubling by Joint Committee 2008 was merely on the assumption of doubling of TA rates, which was tripled/quadrupled later.

The entire report is silent about the arguments placed by the staff side so this meeting demands to reject the findings of the FTC.

Further the Railway Board officials present before RLC, New Delhi on 25-06-2010 and stated that “the recommendations of the FTC is put up before appropriate forum of the Railway Board and the matter will be examined at a larger forum to see that it gives satisfaction to the large number of Railway employees” and agreed to submit implementation report before RLC, New Delhi within 45 days. The Rly. Official further requested our representation to wait the final verdict of Rly. Board. Considering the new developments the CWC calls upon the entire Loco Running Staff to stall the agitation programmes for 45 days so that the final decision of Railway Board be released to take our further course of action uniformly all over India. Simultaneously we urge the Railway administration to resolve the issues to the full satisfaction of the Loco Running Staff.

2. A public interest litigation and the Rly. Management through GM/C-Rly. and W. Rly. is filed a case in the High Court of Mumbai in connection with the agitation of Locomen on 3rd and 4th May 2010. The litigation may lead to bad precedences. So the CWC directs the zonal committee of Central Railway to see that the case is pursued effectively through the JAF and also direct all other zonal committees to help them financially by sending Rs.2000/- immediately through the Central committee.

3. Mumbai High Court as we informed has directed to start conciliation before RLC Mumbai on the Locomen demands. The CWC suggests that the Joint Action Forum to confine the conciliation proceedings to issues pertaining to the Motormen and local issues before the RLC Mumbai and let the other issues to the conciliation of RLC New Delhi. The CWC also invites two representatives from the JAF to attend the conciliation proceedings before the RLC New Delhi on 20th August 2010, so as we shall maintain both the conciliations complimentary to each other.

4. All zonal/divisional/branch secretaries are directed to stop collection of membership of 2009 and send the collected membership with quota immediately to the Central. All zonal/divisional/branch secretaries shall start enrollment of membership for the year 2010 and shall be completed and send the membership statement by the end of August 2010. Those who are not in possession of membership book for the year 2010 may contact the Central Treasurer immediately

5. A detailed leaflet to be drafted centrally explaining the decisions of the CWC and published in English and Hindi immediately.
6. Sustained and continuous campaign programme by holding group meetings, worker’s meet, and tour programme in the zone by the team of zonal leaders to explain the situation and our task.

In order to explain the entire course of agitations organized by us, the results, the attitude of the Railway administration and the Federations and also to prepare staff for final action regional conventions with a Rally inviting representatives of trade unions, democratic organizations, people’s representatives, representatives of passengers/rail users as per the following programme to be conducted within 10th August 2010 and finally organizing a national convention at Mumbai on 25th August 2010. The convention shall be organized jointly by the Railways noted against each and the comrades nominated shall be in-charge of organizing the same. The date of the regional conventions be fixed with the consent of Secretary General.

PLACE OF CONVENTION RAILWAYS IN-CHARGE
Vijayawada SR,SWR,SCR Com.L.Mony
VSKP division of ECoR

Kolkata ER,SE,KUR & SBP Com.N.B.Dutta
Divisions of ECoR,
& Metro/Kolkata

Patna NE,ECR Com.D.Srivatsava

Jodhpur/Kota NWR,WCR,WR Com.Lunaram Siyag
/Jaipur

Ludhiana NR, parts of NWR & WCR Com.Paramjit Singh

Nagpur SEC,part of CR Com. M.P.Deo
(NGP,Solapur&BSL)
New jalpaiguri NFR Com.Sanjit Sarkar


The national convention at Mumbai or Kalyan to be organized in consultation with Motormen Association. Com.D.S.Koparkar will be responsible for organizing the national convention. The expenditure will be shared by AILRSA of WR & CR and Motormen Association. A token monetary assistance can also be given by the Central committee. Later, Com. Sunish informed undersigned that “ONAM” festival starts from 25th .Aug. and so the date of national convention may be deferred which will be known to you with sufficient imagine of time.

7. A generator set and an additional water tank for the use at the Central camp office, Ghaziabad with an approximate cost of Rs.20000/- to be purchased from the central fund.



(M. N. PRASAD)
Secretary General

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Letter to MP

ALL INDIA LOCO RUNNING STAFF ASSOCIATION
Regd. No. 17903 H/Q Yellow Building, P.O. Anara R.S. Distt. Purulia (W.B.) Pin 723126
Central Office : AILRSA BHAWAN, H.No. 333, Bhoor Bharat Nagar, Ghaziabad – 201001.
Tel. No. : 0120-2740025
L. Mony M.N.Prasad
Central President Secretary-General,
‘Devi Nilayam’, Kadavil Road, At:- Aravindapally,
P.O. Vyttila – 682 019, Kochi, Kerala. Post: Adra, Dist:-Purulia (WB)
Phone: 09446207312 Phone: 09434008950 E-mail mn.prasad@rediffmail.com
Ref: ……………… Date: 02.11.2009


To,
Sri,
Hon’ble M. P (Lok-Sabha / Rajya-Sabha)

Sir,
Reg: - Locomen Grievances.

The All India Loco Running Staff Association, is an Organization of Loco Pilots, Motorman and Asst. Loco Pilot of Indian Railways, who are maintaing the train services in Indian Railways all round the day & night in all the seasons and in all the area whether naxalite effected or terrorist effected taking the risk of their lives but always their genuine grievances have been ignored and made sufferer. Their service and working condition are being deteriated day by day which some times become the cause of an accident in the Railways.

The 6th CPC again done injustice to their Pay, running allowances etc. several representations at the different levels and at the different occasions have been made during last one year but in vain. Lastly the Association has decided to hold a rally following which, sit in Hunger for 24 hrs. on 25th / 26th Nov’ 09 from 11:30 hrs. on 25.11.2009 in order to draw the attention of Railway Administration

The Loco Running Staff of Indian Railway are very much deprived and dissatisfied, request you to take up the issue with Hon’ble Minister for Railways so that the genuine grievances are redressed.

I hereby also request your honour to address the rally on 25th Nov’ 09 at Jantra Mantra, New Delhi, confirmation may please be given to me.

I further request you to give me an appointment to meet you in New Delhi any day in-between 22nd Nov to 24th Nov’09 at your convenience to enable me to explain our grievances in person.

Expecting your help and assistance to solve our problems.

With thanks,

Your’s sincerely


M. N. Prasad
Secretary General
AILRSA

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POSTPONMENT OF HUNGER FAST

Due to security reasons since some Sikh Festival at New Delhi, The proposed Hunger Fast is Postponed to 25& 26 of November and CWC 26 &27 of November.Zones and Divisions must ensure that reservations to be changed accordingly. The Zonal Quota of Rs 5000/- and Membership to be remitted by the Zones.

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Representation to Mamata Banerjee

-DRAFT-

To

Miss. MAMATHA BANARJEE,
Hon’ble Minister for Railways,
Rail Bhavan, New Delhi.


Respected Madam,

On behalf of the Loco Running staff of the Indian Railways, this Union submits this representation before your august office, seeking redressal of their grievances.
The Loco Running Staff of Indian Railways have to play a vital role in ensuring safety and punctuality in train services. Their nature of duty, responsibility the environment on which they work are distinct and different from other Railway workers.
The rules, regulations and instructions pertaining to them too are different. All other Railway workers have a scheduled work, a fixed daily duty hours and regular and constant periodical rest in a week. In the case of Loco Running staff there are no fixed schedule for their duty, which in nature unscheduled according to the timing of train, no fixed duty hours, it may vary and extended up to 16 or 20 hours as the circumstances warranted. Periodical rest in a week has been converted to 4 Periodical Rest of 30 hours or 5 periodical rest of 22 hours in month, thus they are deprived of periodical rest in every week as of others. Continuous night duty for 5 to 6 nights. These distinct and difference is peculiar to Loco running staff of Indian Railway none of the other Government employees in India have such a pathetic circumstances. They are mercilessly treated as machines and not as human beings. In the course they could not look after their family nor keep their health, as others enjoying in Government service.
Therefore a special care be taken in their case. Various Committees and Commissions recognized this position. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railway headed by Com. Basudev Acharya .M.P recommended to fix the duty at a stretch to 8 hours after taking into account various position prevails in Railways, the National and inter national norms on working hours, the recommendations of International Labour Organisation etc. The recommendations were placed before the Parliament during 2004.
Recently the Running Allowance Committee submitted its report on 25th November 2008 the Committee held as follows, “the Running staff are crucial and vital to the running of Railway and the fact that the Running staff productivity is critical to the Indian Railway, so it is necessary their motivation level is maintained at the highest level, and upon the implementation of the 6th CPC recommendation, Teachers, Nurses, Section Officers / Sr. Section Officers of Accounts have been placed in the pay band which over shoot conventional Group – C scales. Crucial category like Running staff have to be seen in relation to the difficulties, skill level and environment in which they work and Running staff are distinct from all other Group – C staff and their case has to be accordingly appreciated.”
It seems that the Railway Board too have fully appreciated these position. In the midst of various constraints innumerable instructions were issued to enhance the welfare of Loco Running staff, But to our dismay it never touch the core issue. Their pay packet are not commensurate to the responsibility attached to the post, the skill required to, the health that ask to stay fit to perform the assigned duty. That leads us to explain our grievances in Pay, Allowances and Duty hours.

DUTY HOURS OF RUNNING STAFF AND PERIODICAL REST:-
The two important grievances which we urge can be enumerated as follows –
(a) Limitation of the duty hours at a stretch to eight hours as against the existing practice of about 14 to 16 hours.
(b) Grant of one calendar day rest per week as against the existing practice of a periodic rest of 30 hours each 4 times a month or 22 hours each for 5 times a month
The brief details of the above two grievances are given hereunder for immediate reference:
Right from the pre-independence days, the Loco Pilots / Engine Drivers of the Indian Railways wee subjected to work at a stretch for a period exceeding 16 or 17 hours, without any limitation. This led to various agitations and strikes, particularly between 1968 and 1972 and, finally, during 1973 an agreement was reached between the Association and the Hon’ble Labour Minister to the effect that the duty hours at a stretch of the Loco running staff would be confined to only 10 hours. This agreement was announced in the floor of Parliament on 13.08.1973.
Based on this agreement, the Railway Board issued an Order bearing No. E (LL) 77 – HER / 29 dated 31.08.1978 limiting the working hours of the running staff at a stretch to 10 hours. These instructions were, however, diluted by another Order bearing no. No. EE (LL) 78 – HER / 29 dated 03.04.1981, with the result, the Loco Pilot / Engine Drivers were again forced to work for unlimited hours at stretch, some times even going beyond 20 hours. Unable to bear the strain of such long and inhuman hours of work, further agitations and litigations followed and finally in a batch of petitions filed before the Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Ernakulam Bench by a large number of Drivers, it was held that the working hours were inhuman and appropriate further directions were issued.
In purported compliance with the directions, the Railway Board also issued another Order bearing No. E/LL/91 HER I-II dated 03.04.1992. These instructions, very flexible in character, had again taken the workers back to the position as it existed prior to 1978 or it may even be said the pre-independence days with the result now almost every Loco Driver, mostly Goods Drives / Asst Loco Pilots are expected to work at a stretch for more than 14 to 16 hours. Again agitations followed, including in the nature of complaints before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, headed by Shri. Basudev Acharya, Hon’ble M.P made its recommendations that more than 8 hours duty at a stretch should not be extracted from the Loco running staff of Indian Railways and the said Report was placed before the Parliament during 2004.
It is also understood that the Hon’ble Minister of State for Railways Shri. Velu placed before the Parliament the action taken Report on various recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee and in this report, it is understood, there is no reference to the limitation of the working hours of the running staff to 8 hours at a stretch. In other words, even in this twenty first century of human advancement, the Loco Pilots of Indian Railway toil for 14 to 16 hours at a stretch that is with uncertain working hours. Such working conditions have not only substantially affected the health of the Loco Pilots as recognized by the Railways themselves in the safety related voluntary retirement scheme, the same also affects the safety of the traveling public to a large extent. The members of the family of the Loco Pilots including children also suffer from deprivation and total disenhancement and disappointment.
In this circumstances we humbly pray that at least your good self be pleased to show some human sympathy upon ourselves and limit the working hours of Loco Pilots to 8 hours at a stretch and thus save us from further destruction and peril.

b) Grant of one calendar day rest per week as against the existing practice of a periodic rest of 30 hours each 4 times a month or 22 hours each for 5 times a month :-
Apart from the daily working hours the periodic / weekly rest / holidays of the Loco Pilots is also uncertain as at present. If a Loco Pilots breaks off at 10.00 am a day and joins back for duty at 04.00 pm next day then that is called as availing of a periodical rest and if such 30 hours of ‘Periodical Rest’ is given for 4 days per month, it is stated that the statutory requirement of granting a weekly rest is fulfilled. If such a gap instead of 30 hours is confined to 22 hours, between two spells of duty and if 5 such spells given in a month, then also it is suggested by the Railway Administration that the statutory requirement of Periodical Rest is fulfilled.
As a matter of fact, under statutory provisions, after every spell of duty (which presently run between 14 and 16 hours) a Loco Pilot is entitled to 16 hours rest. If the statutory requirement of 16 hours rest after a spell of duty is also added each Loco Pilot is legally entitled to avail minimum of 46 hours of weekly rest in place of a weekly holiday as in the case of other Office staff.
The absence of such weekly holiday/rest added with uncertain hours of work has virtually shattered the family conditions / health of a large section of Railway employees. A vast majority of them have been rendered medically unfit before the attainment of their age of superannuation and another large section of Loco Pilots voluntarily retired and leave the service unable to stand the inhuman working conditions.

ASST. LOCO PILOT and their Pay Packet:-
The recruitment cadre to Loco Running staff category is Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP). The recruitment qualification is matriculation with ITI, preferably Diploma in Engineering. After recruitment through Railway Recruitment Board, they have to undergo a thorough and stringent medical examination The medical standard of ‘Aye One’ be maintained through out the service as Running staff.
There after they must undergo a 9 months stringent initial training on induction as Assistant Loco Pilot in which they have to undergo training in safety related Rules, regulations and instructions Mechanism / Operations of various types of Locomotives in service including attend of trouble, safety equipments on them, relevant aspects of various coaches / wagons and problems on run, Fire fighting, Function of Shed / Crew lobby Control Office, familiar with the section of Rail track, location of innumerable signals, Boards, Station lay outs, up and down gradients etc. The responsibility to ensure safety of the Passenger which are same as stringent as of Airline Pilots.
No such medical standard, stringent training, responsibility called from any Railway worker at the initial induction period. The lowest Railway of Central Government worker in the hierarchy, fitted in the Pay Band and Grade Pay of Rs. 5200 – 20200 + Rs. 1800. Without considering the highest standard of Medical fitness, stringent training , high responsibility and skill required to perform duty as Assistant Loco Pilot the same Pay Band has been allotted with a Grade Pay of Rs. 1900/- , just Rs. 100/- than the lowest post in the Government Service.
Enhancing a mere Rs. 100/- in Grade Pay alone than the lowest post in Government service to this vital and crucial category, i.e., the Assistant Loco Pilot is shock the mind of all. The Railway Board themselves agreed in this point. We have the pleasure to meet the Member Staff on 19th November 2008, and the Chairman, Railway Board on 6th February 2009. Both were agreed that the Grade Pay allowed to the ALP is not commensurate to the work done by them and the Railway Board is intended to rectify the anomaly and a Committee is appointed to examine the issue. In fact a Committee was constituted on 09.01.2009 to prioritize the issue pertaining to replacement Pay structure; its period was extended up to 3rd October 2009.
It may be noted that the vertical and horizontal relativity of Pay of ALP with the Guards that were existed from 1st CPC has been completely shattered. The following position shows the correct picture.
Period ALP / First Fireman Guard Asst. Guard
1st CPC Rs. 75 - 105 Rs. 60 - 170
3rd CPC Rs. 290 -350 Rs. 290 - 400 Rs. 225 - 270
Cadre restructuring of 1983 Rs. 290 -350 Rs. 330 - 500 Rs. 225 - 270
4th CPC Rs. 950 - 1500 Rs. 1200 - 2040 Rs. 950 - 1400
5th CPC Rs. 3050 - 4590 Rs. 4500 - 7000 Rs. 3050 - 4590
6th CPC Grade Pay - 1900 Grade Pay - 2800 Grade Pay - 1900

From the table it is seen that during 1st CPC the Guard Pay was much lesser than ALP. The Guard’s Pay was raised and made equal at 3rd CPC. The Pay of Guard surpassed the ALP in the year 1983 by way of cadre restructure by the Railway Board. 5th CPC further raised the Pay of Guard much above the ALP. 6th CPC followed suit. Now the ALP is at Grade Pay Rs. 1900/- and Guard is fitted against a Grade Pay of Rs. 2800/-. The Asst. Guard are with the Grade Pay of Rs. 1900/- but the responsibility attached to the post of ALP and Asst. Guards differ widely, so the same pay packet for them is absurd.
The duties of ALP has a sea change from 1st CPC to 6th CPC, responsibility increased, higher skills required, educational qualification made higher, stringent induction training; where as responsibilities and medical standard of Guards stand as it is from 1st CPC to 6th CPC.
We therefore request to reconsider the case of Asst. Loco Pilot of Indian Railways and to allow a Grade Pay of Rs. 2800/-.

LOCO PILOT and their Pay packet :-
The 6th CPC merged the scales of Rs. 5000 – 8000 and 6500 – 10500 to one Pay band of Rs. 9300 – 34800 with a Grade Pay of Rs. 4200/-. Where as the Post which have a scale of 6500 – 10500 were upgraded to a distinctive Grade Pay of 4600. So in fact two grades of Rs. 5000 – 8000 and 5500 – 9000 were merged into one.
The recommendation of the Commission on merger of these scales was that “it should first be seen, if the Post in the three scales can be merged without any functional difference”. If there are functional differences, it need not be merged. In the case of Loco Running staff post of Sr. Loco Pilot (Shunting), Loco Pilot (Goods), Loco Pilot (Passenger) and Loco Pilot (Mail) there are functional difference exist in performing duties and responsibility, therefore allowing same Grade Pay of Rs. 4200/- to all these posts need to be reviewed. A distinctive Grade Pay of Rs. 4200 4600, 4800 and 5400/-be allowed to each Sr. Loco Pilot (Shunting), Loco Pilot (Goods), Loco Pilot (Passenger) and Loco Pilot (Mail).
The Staff Nurse in the scale of Rs. 5000 – 8000 and Nusing Sister in scale of 5000 – 9000 and Nursing Superintend in scale of Rs.6500 – 10500 were allowed with a Grade Pay of Rs. 4600, 4800 and 5400 respectively even though there is no functional difference in their duty.
Added to that the direct recruited Motorman, Guard, TXR, SM /
TTE and a host of categories placed in the Grade Pay of Rs. 4600, 4800, 5400 on completion of 10, 20 and 30 year under ACP. No such chance do exist for Loco Pilots to reach this Grade Pay.

In summary we request to allow Grade Pay as follows: –
Second Fireman - Rs. 2400
Asst. Loco Pilot / 1st Fireman - Rs. 2800
Loco Pilot (Shunting) - Rs. 4200
Loco Pilot ( Goods ) - Rs. 4600
Loco Pilot (Passenger) - Rs. 4800
Loco Pilot (Mail) - Rs. 5400

The entry Pay in Pay band for direct recruits is fixed in First schedule Section II of Railway Service (Revised Pay) Rules 2008. This will be made applicable to those who enter on promotion to the concerned Grade Pay. It may be appreciated that the job attributes, responsibility, medical standard attached to the post of a Loco Pilot differ much with Guards. It is everybody’s knowledge that Loco pilot cannot be equated with Guard in performing duty attached with them. The Loco Pilot was at higher level and they were paid a higher Pay packet than the Guard. After implementation of 6th CPC both were treated as equal and equal Pay were allowed. Thus unequals are treated as equal. The retirement benefit of Loco Pilot and Guard become one and the same. This discrimination caused to Loco Pilot and they finds nothing more than the Guards Pay, be rectified.

ADDITIONAL ALLOWACNE :-

An additional allowance of Rs. 500 / Rs. 1000 were allowed to Loco Pilot (Passenger) and Loco Pilot (Mail) considering the onerous nature of duty. Restricting these two categories for this additional allowance is not correct. The entire categories of Loco Running staff are facing the same onerous duty. Therefore this allowance to be extended to others too and the same should be treated as Pay for the purpose of HRA, Running allowance and retirement benefit.

PROVIDE CO-DRIVER IN SUPERFAST TRAINS :-
Already many trains such as Rajadhani, Shatabdi Express were provided with Co Pilot instead of Assistant Loco Pilot, considering the arduousness of duty, high speed and related safety. The Running Allowance Committee – 2002 recommended that trains which are run at a speed above 100 kmph should be provided with Co-Pilot instead of Assistant Loco Pilot. This recommendation be implemented considering the safety aspect of high speed trains.

RUNNING ALLOWANCE AND OTHER MATTERS :-
‘The Committee on Running Allowance’ is constituted to decide the quantum of Pay element and running allowance rate, has submitted its recommendation. The recommendations of the Committee that the existing quantum of Pay element shall continue but running allowance rate shall be doubled, abolishing the system of determining the rate of kilometerage on a long established formula.
We are constrained to say that the whole concept of introduction of running allowance scheme by the Railway is not fully understood by the Committee. After all the Running staff should be paid the pay element according to the Basic Pay (Pay Band + Grade Pay) of the individual employee and TA / DA according to TA / DA Rules. This is the minimum concept and is in accordance with basic rules.
Instead of straight away giving it, this has been paid through the scheme of Running allowance. The RAC - 1980 dealt the subject well. They recommended to take the mean of the scale as a compromise formula, otherwise different and distinctive rate have to be derived to different sage in Pay scale as the individual employee is entitled for pay element according to his Basic Pay. Deriving different rate for different stage in Basic Pay is cumbersome and impractical. It may also be noted that while taking mean of the Basic Pay in fact, those who are in higher basic pay will loose and those in lower pay benefited. If the minimum of pay scale is taken to arrive at the rate, the individual employee who draws higher pay will not get the actual amount of pay element which is statutory in nature. If the maximum of Basic Pay is taken to arrive the rate, then unintended benefit will accrue to those who are in lower level in the scale. That is why the RAC 1980 recommended taking the mean pay to arrive at the rate. It was equitable decision. And staff not protested even though there was a loss for those who draw higher pay in the scale.
The present recommendation to take the minimum of pay band be seen in this perception. Those who draw higher pay in the Pay Band will get a lesser amount of pay element, that too a very drastic loss. Pay of many running staff had been fixed in the band above Rs. 22,000/- and none draws at Rs. 9300/- at present.
The observations made by the 6th CPC to pay, allowances with reference to minimum of pay in the pay band in para 7.36.97 of its report were in the nature of suggestion / illustration and this has modified through an errata and held that the administrative ministry concerned will need to take a final view thereon.
Therefore the recommendation may be rejected and mean of the Pay Band and grade pay be taken to arrive at the running allowance rate.
The Committee assumed the TA / DA rate at Rs. 210/-, but subsequently order of Railway Board on TA / DA has been released fixing R. 340/- as TA / DA for the grade pay of Rs. 4200/-. So instead of Rs. 210 an amount of Rs. 340 should be taken as TA for fixing the running allowance rate. Therefore the recommendation of the committee on Running Allowance to double the rate w.e.f 01.09.2009 has to be rejected.
20 days TA / DA in the formulae may be revised at least to 25 days considering the present Crew links / pattern of working.
According to the finding of the Committee on benchmarking, the national average kilometerage arrived was at 4700 km. Therefore the average kilometer of Loco Pilot (Passenger) may be taken at 4700 km and Assistant Loco Pilot be taken as 3700 km to arrive at the Running Allowance rate.
We further wish to point out that the fixation of Loco Pilot (Pass) whose Basic Pay as on 01.01.2006 at Rs. 5500 will be fixed at Rs. 11650 + 4200 GP i.e. at Rs. 15850 and TA of 105 was raised to Rs. 340 with an increase of 3.25 times. In the case of Assistant Loco Pilots the increase in TA rates is from Rs. 55 to Rs. 210. i.e. 3.81 times. Therefore the recommendation of the committee to double the rate of running allowance from 01.09.2006 has to be rejected.
Accordingly it is just to demand that the kilometerage rate of running staff be raised as follows:-

Application of RAC-1980 formula with 25 days TA and 4700 / 3725 km for LP / ALP, the rate from 01.01.2006 to 31.08.2006.
LOCO PILOT ASST. LOCO PILOT
Basic Pay (9300 + 34800) / 2 + 4200 * ( 5830 +20200) / 2 + 1900
Mean Pay 26250 14915
30% of Pay element 7875 4475
New TA rates 105 55
National average km 4700 3725
Mileage rate with TA Rs. 105 / 55 (7875 +(105 X 25) /4700 ) X 100 = 223.40 (4475 + (55 X 25) / 3725 ) 100 = 157.05
Mileage rate with TA Rs. 340 / 210 w.e.f 01.09.2006 (7875 +(340 X 25) / 4700 ) X 100 = 348.40 (4475 + (210 X 25) / 3725 ) 100 = 261.05
• entry pay for Asst. Loco Pilot.

In the light of the above facts, the recommendations of the Committee need to be modified duly considering our demand for increasing the pay element to 60% / 75% and taking national average kilometerage of passenger crew links as 4700 kilometers with 25 days TA.
We hope that the matter may be sympathetically viewed and conceded.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,





M. N. PRASAD,
New Delhi, Secretary General,
All India Loco Running Staff Association.

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Representation to Mamata Banerjee

-DRAFT-

To

Miss. MAMATHA BANARJEE,
Hon’ble Minister for Railways,
Rail Bhavan, New Delhi.


Respected Madam,

On behalf of the Loco Running staff of the Indian Railways, this Union submits this representation before your august office, seeking redressal of their grievances.
The Loco Running Staff of Indian Railways have to play a vital role in ensuring safety and punctuality in train services. Their nature of duty, responsibility the environment on which they work are distinct and different from other Railway workers.
The rules, regulations and instructions pertaining to them too are different. All other Railway workers have a scheduled work, a fixed daily duty hours and regular and constant periodical rest in a week. In the case of Loco Running staff there are no fixed schedule for their duty, which in nature unscheduled according to the timing of train, no fixed duty hours, it may vary and extended up to 16 or 20 hours as the circumstances warranted. Periodical rest in a week has been converted to 4 Periodical Rest of 30 hours or 5 periodical rest of 22 hours in month, thus they are deprived of periodical rest in every week as of others. Continuous night duty for 5 to 6 nights. These distinct and difference is peculiar to Loco running staff of Indian Railway none of the other Government employees in India have such a pathetic circumstances. They are mercilessly treated as machines and not as human beings. In the course they could not look after their family nor keep their health, as others enjoying in Government service.
Therefore a special care be taken in their case. Various Committees and Commissions recognized this position. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railway headed by Com. Basudev Acharya .M.P recommended to fix the duty at a stretch to 8 hours after taking into account various position prevails in Railways, the National and inter national norms on working hours, the recommendations of International Labour Organisation etc. The recommendations were placed before the Parliament during 2004.
Recently the Running Allowance Committee submitted its report on 25th November 2008 the Committee held as follows, “the Running staff are crucial and vital to the running of Railway and the fact that the Running staff productivity is critical to the Indian Railway, so it is necessary their motivation level is maintained at the highest level, and upon the implementation of the 6th CPC recommendation, Teachers, Nurses, Section Officers / Sr. Section Officers of Accounts have been placed in the pay band which over shoot conventional Group – C scales. Crucial category like Running staff have to be seen in relation to the difficulties, skill level and environment in which they work and Running staff are distinct from all other Group – C staff and their case has to be accordingly appreciated.”
It seems that the Railway Board too have fully appreciated these position. In the midst of various constraints innumerable instructions were issued to enhance the welfare of Loco Running staff, But to our dismay it never touch the core issue. Their pay packet are not commensurate to the responsibility attached to the post, the skill required to, the health that ask to stay fit to perform the assigned duty. That leads us to explain our grievances in Pay, Allowances and Duty hours.

DUTY HOURS OF RUNNING STAFF AND PERIODICAL REST:-
The two important grievances which we urge can be enumerated as follows –
(a) Limitation of the duty hours at a stretch to eight hours as against the existing practice of about 14 to 16 hours.
(b) Grant of one calendar day rest per week as against the existing practice of a periodic rest of 30 hours each 4 times a month or 22 hours each for 5 times a month
The brief details of the above two grievances are given hereunder for immediate reference:
Right from the pre-independence days, the Loco Pilots / Engine Drivers of the Indian Railways wee subjected to work at a stretch for a period exceeding 16 or 17 hours, without any limitation. This led to various agitations and strikes, particularly between 1968 and 1972 and, finally, during 1973 an agreement was reached between the Association and the Hon’ble Labour Minister to the effect that the duty hours at a stretch of the Loco running staff would be confined to only 10 hours. This agreement was announced in the floor of Parliament on 13.08.1973.
Based on this agreement, the Railway Board issued an Order bearing No. E (LL) 77 – HER / 29 dated 31.08.1978 limiting the working hours of the running staff at a stretch to 10 hours. These instructions were, however, diluted by another Order bearing no. No. EE (LL) 78 – HER / 29 dated 03.04.1981, with the result, the Loco Pilot / Engine Drivers were again forced to work for unlimited hours at stretch, some times even going beyond 20 hours. Unable to bear the strain of such long and inhuman hours of work, further agitations and litigations followed and finally in a batch of petitions filed before the Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Ernakulam Bench by a large number of Drivers, it was held that the working hours were inhuman and appropriate further directions were issued.
In purported compliance with the directions, the Railway Board also issued another Order bearing No. E/LL/91 HER I-II dated 03.04.1992. These instructions, very flexible in character, had again taken the workers back to the position as it existed prior to 1978 or it may even be said the pre-independence days with the result now almost every Loco Driver, mostly Goods Drives / Asst Loco Pilots are expected to work at a stretch for more than 14 to 16 hours. Again agitations followed, including in the nature of complaints before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, headed by Shri. Basudev Acharya, Hon’ble M.P made its recommendations that more than 8 hours duty at a stretch should not be extracted from the Loco running staff of Indian Railways and the said Report was placed before the Parliament during 2004.
It is also understood that the Hon’ble Minister of State for Railways Shri. Velu placed before the Parliament the action taken Report on various recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee and in this report, it is understood, there is no reference to the limitation of the working hours of the running staff to 8 hours at a stretch. In other words, even in this twenty first century of human advancement, the Loco Pilots of Indian Railway toil for 14 to 16 hours at a stretch that is with uncertain working hours. Such working conditions have not only substantially affected the health of the Loco Pilots as recognized by the Railways themselves in the safety related voluntary retirement scheme, the same also affects the safety of the traveling public to a large extent. The members of the family of the Loco Pilots including children also suffer from deprivation and total disenhancement and disappointment.
In this circumstances we humbly pray that at least your good self be pleased to show some human sympathy upon ourselves and limit the working hours of Loco Pilots to 8 hours at a stretch and thus save us from further destruction and peril.

b) Grant of one calendar day rest per week as against the existing practice of a periodic rest of 30 hours each 4 times a month or 22 hours each for 5 times a month :-
Apart from the daily working hours the periodic / weekly rest / holidays of the Loco Pilots is also uncertain as at present. If a Loco Pilots breaks off at 10.00 am a day and joins back for duty at 04.00 pm next day then that is called as availing of a periodical rest and if such 30 hours of ‘Periodical Rest’ is given for 4 days per month, it is stated that the statutory requirement of granting a weekly rest is fulfilled. If such a gap instead of 30 hours is confined to 22 hours, between two spells of duty and if 5 such spells given in a month, then also it is suggested by the Railway Administration that the statutory requirement of Periodical Rest is fulfilled.
As a matter of fact, under statutory provisions, after every spell of duty (which presently run between 14 and 16 hours) a Loco Pilot is entitled to 16 hours rest. If the statutory requirement of 16 hours rest after a spell of duty is also added each Loco Pilot is legally entitled to avail minimum of 46 hours of weekly rest in place of a weekly holiday as in the case of other Office staff.
The absence of such weekly holiday/rest added with uncertain hours of work has virtually shattered the family conditions / health of a large section of Railway employees. A vast majority of them have been rendered medically unfit before the attainment of their age of superannuation and another large section of Loco Pilots voluntarily retired and leave the service unable to stand the inhuman working conditions.

ASST. LOCO PILOT and their Pay Packet:-
The recruitment cadre to Loco Running staff category is Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP). The recruitment qualification is matriculation with ITI, preferably Diploma in Engineering. After recruitment through Railway Recruitment Board, they have to undergo a thorough and stringent medical examination The medical standard of ‘Aye One’ be maintained through out the service as Running staff.
There after they must undergo a 9 months stringent initial training on induction as Assistant Loco Pilot in which they have to undergo training in safety related Rules, regulations and instructions Mechanism / Operations of various types of Locomotives in service including attend of trouble, safety equipments on them, relevant aspects of various coaches / wagons and problems on run, Fire fighting, Function of Shed / Crew lobby Control Office, familiar with the section of Rail track, location of innumerable signals, Boards, Station lay outs, up and down gradients etc. The responsibility to ensure safety of the Passenger which are same as stringent as of Airline Pilots.
No such medical standard, stringent training, responsibility called from any Railway worker at the initial induction period. The lowest Railway of Central Government worker in the hierarchy, fitted in the Pay Band and Grade Pay of Rs. 5200 – 20200 + Rs. 1800. Without considering the highest standard of Medical fitness, stringent training , high responsibility and skill required to perform duty as Assistant Loco Pilot the same Pay Band has been allotted with a Grade Pay of Rs. 1900/- , just Rs. 100/- than the lowest post in the Government Service.
Enhancing a mere Rs. 100/- in Grade Pay alone than the lowest post in Government service to this vital and crucial category, i.e., the Assistant Loco Pilot is shock the mind of all. The Railway Board themselves agreed in this point. We have the pleasure to meet the Member Staff on 19th November 2008, and the Chairman, Railway Board on 6th February 2009. Both were agreed that the Grade Pay allowed to the ALP is not commensurate to the work done by them and the Railway Board is intended to rectify the anomaly and a Committee is appointed to examine the issue. In fact a Committee was constituted on 09.01.2009 to prioritize the issue pertaining to replacement Pay structure; its period was extended up to 3rd October 2009.
It may be noted that the vertical and horizontal relativity of Pay of ALP with the Guards that were existed from 1st CPC has been completely shattered. The following position shows the correct picture.
Period ALP / First Fireman Guard Asst. Guard
1st CPC Rs. 75 - 105 Rs. 60 - 170
3rd CPC Rs. 290 -350 Rs. 290 - 400 Rs. 225 - 270
Cadre restructuring of 1983 Rs. 290 -350 Rs. 330 - 500 Rs. 225 - 270
4th CPC Rs. 950 - 1500 Rs. 1200 - 2040 Rs. 950 - 1400
5th CPC Rs. 3050 - 4590 Rs. 4500 - 7000 Rs. 3050 - 4590
6th CPC Grade Pay - 1900 Grade Pay - 2800 Grade Pay - 1900

From the table it is seen that during 1st CPC the Guard Pay was much lesser than ALP. The Guard’s Pay was raised and made equal at 3rd CPC. The Pay of Guard surpassed the ALP in the year 1983 by way of cadre restructure by the Railway Board. 5th CPC further raised the Pay of Guard much above the ALP. 6th CPC followed suit. Now the ALP is at Grade Pay Rs. 1900/- and Guard is fitted against a Grade Pay of Rs. 2800/-. The Asst. Guard are with the Grade Pay of Rs. 1900/- but the responsibility attached to the post of ALP and Asst. Guards differ widely, so the same pay packet for them is absurd.
The duties of ALP has a sea change from 1st CPC to 6th CPC, responsibility increased, higher skills required, educational qualification made higher, stringent induction training; where as responsibilities and medical standard of Guards stand as it is from 1st CPC to 6th CPC.
We therefore request to reconsider the case of Asst. Loco Pilot of Indian Railways and to allow a Grade Pay of Rs. 2800/-.

LOCO PILOT and their Pay packet :-
The 6th CPC merged the scales of Rs. 5000 – 8000 and 6500 – 10500 to one Pay band of Rs. 9300 – 34800 with a Grade Pay of Rs. 4200/-. Where as the Post which have a scale of 6500 – 10500 were upgraded to a distinctive Grade Pay of 4600. So in fact two grades of Rs. 5000 – 8000 and 5500 – 9000 were merged into one.
The recommendation of the Commission on merger of these scales was that “it should first be seen, if the Post in the three scales can be merged without any functional difference”. If there are functional differences, it need not be merged. In the case of Loco Running staff post of Sr. Loco Pilot (Shunting), Loco Pilot (Goods), Loco Pilot (Passenger) and Loco Pilot (Mail) there are functional difference exist in performing duties and responsibility, therefore allowing same Grade Pay of Rs. 4200/- to all these posts need to be reviewed. A distinctive Grade Pay of Rs. 4200 4600, 4800 and 5400/-be allowed to each Sr. Loco Pilot (Shunting), Loco Pilot (Goods), Loco Pilot (Passenger) and Loco Pilot (Mail).
The Staff Nurse in the scale of Rs. 5000 – 8000 and Nusing Sister in scale of 5000 – 9000 and Nursing Superintend in scale of Rs.6500 – 10500 were allowed with a Grade Pay of Rs. 4600, 4800 and 5400 respectively even though there is no functional difference in their duty.
Added to that the direct recruited Motorman, Guard, TXR, SM /
TTE and a host of categories placed in the Grade Pay of Rs. 4600, 4800, 5400 on completion of 10, 20 and 30 year under ACP. No such chance do exist for Loco Pilots to reach this Grade Pay.

In summary we request to allow Grade Pay as follows: –
Second Fireman - Rs. 2400
Asst. Loco Pilot / 1st Fireman - Rs. 2800
Loco Pilot (Shunting) - Rs. 4200
Loco Pilot ( Goods ) - Rs. 4600
Loco Pilot (Passenger) - Rs. 4800
Loco Pilot (Mail) - Rs. 5400

The entry Pay in Pay band for direct recruits is fixed in First schedule Section II of Railway Service (Revised Pay) Rules 2008. This will be made applicable to those who enter on promotion to the concerned Grade Pay. It may be appreciated that the job attributes, responsibility, medical standard attached to the post of a Loco Pilot differ much with Guards. It is everybody’s knowledge that Loco pilot cannot be equated with Guard in performing duty attached with them. The Loco Pilot was at higher level and they were paid a higher Pay packet than the Guard. After implementation of 6th CPC both were treated as equal and equal Pay were allowed. Thus unequals are treated as equal. The retirement benefit of Loco Pilot and Guard become one and the same. This discrimination caused to Loco Pilot and they finds nothing more than the Guards Pay, be rectified.

ADDITIONAL ALLOWACNE :-

An additional allowance of Rs. 500 / Rs. 1000 were allowed to Loco Pilot (Passenger) and Loco Pilot (Mail) considering the onerous nature of duty. Restricting these two categories for this additional allowance is not correct. The entire categories of Loco Running staff are facing the same onerous duty. Therefore this allowance to be extended to others too and the same should be treated as Pay for the purpose of HRA, Running allowance and retirement benefit.

PROVIDE CO-DRIVER IN SUPERFAST TRAINS :-
Already many trains such as Rajadhani, Shatabdi Express were provided with Co Pilot instead of Assistant Loco Pilot, considering the arduousness of duty, high speed and related safety. The Running Allowance Committee – 2002 recommended that trains which are run at a speed above 100 kmph should be provided with Co-Pilot instead of Assistant Loco Pilot. This recommendation be implemented considering the safety aspect of high speed trains.

RUNNING ALLOWANCE AND OTHER MATTERS :-
‘The Committee on Running Allowance’ is constituted to decide the quantum of Pay element and running allowance rate, has submitted its recommendation. The recommendations of the Committee that the existing quantum of Pay element shall continue but running allowance rate shall be doubled, abolishing the system of determining the rate of kilometerage on a long established formula.
We are constrained to say that the whole concept of introduction of running allowance scheme by the Railway is not fully understood by the Committee. After all the Running staff should be paid the pay element according to the Basic Pay (Pay Band + Grade Pay) of the individual employee and TA / DA according to TA / DA Rules. This is the minimum concept and is in accordance with basic rules.
Instead of straight away giving it, this has been paid through the scheme of Running allowance. The RAC - 1980 dealt the subject well. They recommended to take the mean of the scale as a compromise formula, otherwise different and distinctive rate have to be derived to different sage in Pay scale as the individual employee is entitled for pay element according to his Basic Pay. Deriving different rate for different stage in Basic Pay is cumbersome and impractical. It may also be noted that while taking mean of the Basic Pay in fact, those who are in higher basic pay will loose and those in lower pay benefited. If the minimum of pay scale is taken to arrive at the rate, the individual employee who draws higher pay will not get the actual amount of pay element which is statutory in nature. If the maximum of Basic Pay is taken to arrive the rate, then unintended benefit will accrue to those who are in lower level in the scale. That is why the RAC 1980 recommended taking the mean pay to arrive at the rate. It was equitable decision. And staff not protested even though there was a loss for those who draw higher pay in the scale.
The present recommendation to take the minimum of pay band be seen in this perception. Those who draw higher pay in the Pay Band will get a lesser amount of pay element, that too a very drastic loss. Pay of many running staff had been fixed in the band above Rs. 22,000/- and none draws at Rs. 9300/- at present.
The observations made by the 6th CPC to pay, allowances with reference to minimum of pay in the pay band in para 7.36.97 of its report were in the nature of suggestion / illustration and this has modified through an errata and held that the administrative ministry concerned will need to take a final view thereon.
Therefore the recommendation may be rejected and mean of the Pay Band and grade pay be taken to arrive at the running allowance rate.
The Committee assumed the TA / DA rate at Rs. 210/-, but subsequently order of Railway Board on TA / DA has been released fixing R. 340/- as TA / DA for the grade pay of Rs. 4200/-. So instead of Rs. 210 an amount of Rs. 340 should be taken as TA for fixing the running allowance rate. Therefore the recommendation of the committee on Running Allowance to double the rate w.e.f 01.09.2009 has to be rejected.
20 days TA / DA in the formulae may be revised at least to 25 days considering the present Crew links / pattern of working.
According to the finding of the Committee on benchmarking, the national average kilometerage arrived was at 4700 km. Therefore the average kilometer of Loco Pilot (Passenger) may be taken at 4700 km and Assistant Loco Pilot be taken as 3700 km to arrive at the Running Allowance rate.
We further wish to point out that the fixation of Loco Pilot (Pass) whose Basic Pay as on 01.01.2006 at Rs. 5500 will be fixed at Rs. 11650 + 4200 GP i.e. at Rs. 15850 and TA of 105 was raised to Rs. 340 with an increase of 3.25 times. In the case of Assistant Loco Pilots the increase in TA rates is from Rs. 55 to Rs. 210. i.e. 3.81 times. Therefore the recommendation of the committee to double the rate of running allowance from 01.09.2006 has to be rejected.
Accordingly it is just to demand that the kilometerage rate of running staff be raised as follows:-

Application of RAC-1980 formula with 25 days TA and 4700 / 3725 km for LP / ALP, the rate from 01.01.2006 to 31.08.2006.
LOCO PILOT ASST. LOCO PILOT
Basic Pay (9300 + 34800) / 2 + 4200 * ( 5830 +20200) / 2 + 1900
Mean Pay 26250 14915
30% of Pay element 7875 4475
New TA rates 105 55
National average km 4700 3725
Mileage rate with TA Rs. 105 / 55 (7875 +(105 X 25) /4700 ) X 100 = 223.40 (4475 + (55 X 25) / 3725 ) 100 = 157.05
Mileage rate with TA Rs. 340 / 210 w.e.f 01.09.2006 (7875 +(340 X 25) / 4700 ) X 100 = 348.40 (4475 + (210 X 25) / 3725 ) 100 = 261.05
• entry pay for Asst. Loco Pilot.

In the light of the above facts, the recommendations of the Committee need to be modified duly considering our demand for increasing the pay element to 60% / 75% and taking national average kilometerage of passenger crew links as 4700 kilometers with 25 days TA.
We hope that the matter may be sympathetically viewed and conceded.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,





M. N. PRASAD,
New Delhi, Secretary General,
All India Loco Running Staff Association.

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Draft Representation to MP's

- DRAFT-



To

Shri.
Hon’ble Member of Parliament.

Respected Sir,

This Union represents the Loco Running staff of Indian Railways. This Union wishes to place the grievances of Loco Running staff before your esteemed self. We also earnestly request your good self to raise the issue before the Parliament and persuade the Ministry of Railway to concede the demands of staff.
To draw the attention of Ministry of Railways to our grievances we had staged almost all trade union activities for the past several years, but in vain. All our effort to settle the grievances becomes wild cry. No response shown by the Railway Board in this matter. We are at the last end, and serious protest and resentment brews among staff. We are constrained to take decision to go to strike. Before that once more we try to persuade the Ministry of Railways to look after our grievances; which are as follows.
1. Reduce the duty hours at a stretch to 8 hours for Loco Running staff of Indian Railways.
2. Upgrade the Grade Pay of Asst. Loco Pilot to Rs. 2800/-
3. Allow separate Grade Pay for various Loco Pilots.
These issues were well explained in the attached memorandum addressed to Miss. Mamata Banarjee, Hon’ble Minister for Railways.
DUTY HOURS:-
The duty hours at stretch of Loco Running staff is an issue from the inception of Railway. Many Commissions, such as ‘Justice Rajadhyksha Committee’, The Railway Labour Tribunal of 1969 are made several recommendations. The ‘Rajadhyksha Committee’ fixed it as 14 hours duty in the year 1947. The Railway Labour Tribunal – 1969 fixed it at 12 hours.
In the year 1973, the Loco Running staff went on strike. In the conciliation held between then Labour Minister Shri. Ragunatha Reddy and the Railway Minister, the Government agreed to limit the duty hours to 10 hours from Signing ON to Sign OFF. This agreement and decision were announced in the floor of Parliament on 13.08.1973. The Rules were changed in 31.08.1978. There after the said rule which limit the working hours to 10 hours were diluted by the Railway Board against the will of the Government, as if Railway Board have not responsible towards Government decision and the constitution of India.
Now by an Order dated 13.04.1992, the duty hours at a stretch raised to 13 hours. We are not demanding reduction of duty hours per week which stands at 52 hours, but what we request that at a stretch duty should not go beyond 8 hours.
The Parliament Standing Committee on Railway headed by Shri. Basudev Acharya .M.P recommended to reduce the duty hours to 8 hours for Loco Running staff.
PAY AND ALLOWANCE:-
The Asst. Loco Pilots of Indian Railway were recruited through Railway Recruitment Board. The Minimum qualification is SSLC + ITI. They have to pass a stringent medical exam and induction training for 9 months before absorbing as ALP. There responsibility is to run the train safely and punctually. The job attribute is much higher than the lowest class of employees in Government service. But they are paid with a Grade Pay of Rs. 1900/-, just Rs. 100/- more than the lowest class of Government employee. This is the grievance, justification is to raise the Grade Pay from 1900 to Rs. 2800/-.
The Loco Pilots, working Goods trains, Passenger trains, Mail and Super fast trains are distinctive responsibility and require different skill. They all being paid with one and the same Grade Pay of Rs. 4200/-. This need to be reviewed and separate and higher Grade Pay be allowed to them.
We plead before your esteemed-self to intervene and persuade the Ministry of Railway to concede these demand. We want an amicable settlement. We should not be drive to the extreme trade union action, THE STRIKE.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,




M. N. PRASAD,
New Delhi, Secretary General,
Dated All India Loco Running Staff Association.

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18th Central BGM of AILRSA-NAGPUR

NOTICE FOR HOLDING 18th BGM AT NAGPUR (C. RAILWAY) ON 25th & 26th JUNE 2009.

1. As decided by our CWC meeting which met on 25th, 26th March 2009 at Chennai in extended form and the decision ratified by Zonal committee/C. Railway which met on 5th April 2009 at Nagpur, the central BGM will be held on 25th 26th June 2009 starting from 9hrs positively.
2. All the Zonal secretaries are requested to ensure that their delegates/visitors much reach Nagpur by evening of 24th June 2009 to enable us to start our program in time i.e. 9 hrs sharp on 25th June 2009.
3. The delegates / visitors should note that the meeting will only be concluded by 21 hrs. on 26th June 2009, so they are advised to make their return reservation accordingly.
4. The accommodation will be available from 24th June to 6 O’clock of 27th June 2009.
5. All the delegates are advised to come with their Divisional and Zonal banners.
6. The delegate fee will be Rs. 450/-only for each delegates / visitors. The child of below 10 Yrs and the CWC member / guests will not be required to pay delegates’ fee.
7. You must inform well in advance, your arrival at Nagpur with train no. to Com, M. P. Deo, Cell no. 09422128442 and Com, S. K. Gautam Cell. No. 09975215716
8. You are also invited to file a nomination for the following posts if so desire and that must reach to either Central office, AILRSA Bhawan 333, Bhoor Bharat Nagar, Gaziabad, (UP) or to Secretary General’s residential address i.e. Aravindapally, Post: - Adra, Dist: - Purulia 723121 (West Bengal), at least 10 days before of the BGM i.e. by 15th June 2009, duly forwarded by Branch Secretary with number of M / Ship receipt at least for two years.
The Branch Secretaries are advised to circulate this notification widely.
Posts for which nomination are called for: -
Central President : One
Central working president : One
Central Vice President : Four
Secretary General : One
Joint Secretary General : Two
Assistant Secretary General : Two
Organizing Secretaries : Sixteen (16) (One for each Zone)
Treasure :one
In addition to Zonal secretaries’ and Presidents who are the ex-officio Central Committee, members, the nomination is invited for 16 more members i.e. one for each Zone in CEC.




M. N. Prasad
Secretary General

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AILRSA CWC-Madras

AILRSA,Central Working Committee meeting held at Dhandapani Kalyana mandapam, Thiruvottiyur, Madras division on 25 and 26th March 2009.
Meeting was presided by Com. L Mony, Central president and Com. MN Prasad Secretary General Submitted the report. All the delegates attended in the discussion and the following decisions arrived.
Before commencement of CWC a procession was conducted from TVT Railway station to the hall.Flag hoisted by central president.

The extended Central Working Committee meeting of
All India Loco Running Staff Association was held at Chennai on 25th and 26th of March 2009. The house adopted the following resolutions

This association was constantly demanding for just pay and allowances for loco running staff and submitted adequate justification before the pay commission, the high power committee, Railway board and Govt. of India. The loco running staff have resorted all the possible peaceful agitations through demonstrations, Inland letter campaign, deputation to Railway Minister and Railway Board and sit in Dharna before the Rail Bhawan.

The Dharna before Rail Bhawan on the 6th February 2009 had exposed the protest and anger of loco running staff as they assembled in thousands breaking the barriers of the trade union affiliations. The entire general trade unions in Railways too have accepted our demands as genuine and asked the Railway Board to upgrade the pay of loco running staff and review the decisions on running allowance rates.

All our efforts so far have yielded the Railway Board to ask the prioritizing committee to examine our grievances and to suggest modifications with few small concessions. We have submitted our grievances once again to all the members of prioritizing committee. The outcome is yet to be known.


Despite of all these, Railway Board further reduced the pay pocket of running staff by discarding the time tested formula decided by RAC 1980, and fixing a low rate of running allowance. So the central committee meeting of AILRSA held at Chennai on 25th and 26th of March is of unanimous opinion to go ahead with the earlier decision of INDEFINITE STRIKE.

The entire nation is heading for a general election and Election commission has imposed the restriction on the Government in the name of code of conduct to pass any new orders. More over the strike action may cause some inconvenience in the way of conducting the election as well as to the general public too in the way of exercising their rights for casting votes. The Railway board may take advantages of the above.


So, this meeting decides to take the final decision on the date of commencement of strike in the bi-annual General body meeting of the Association scheduled on 26th to 27th June 2009 at Nagpur, in case the grievances are not settled to the satisfaction of staff.

In the present working conditions and advices as suggested by the medical authorities, including the Railways to maintain A1 Medical standard, timely food and proper night sleep are essential for a category of Loco running staff
The EMU roster contains short [period of rest of about 3 to 4 hours after arriving at out station and then longer duty hours of 6 to 8 hours commencing from the “Vee Hours” of 2 to 5 A.M. The Mail/ Express roster contains pilot / working and working/pilot and staying at running room to pick up “Vee Hours “ trains from head quarters itself.
Hence it is requested to incorporate the timings in Goods/EMU roster/ Mail and Express roster for having Break –fast (8 to 8.20 hrs), lunch (13 to 13 .40 Hrs) Supper (20to 20.30 hrs) and nature call attendance as and when required and proper night rest before and after the duty.

The Railway Board is once again requested to consider the genuine demands of the Loco running staff and to take positive decision at the earliest to keep up the morale of the Loco running staff.

RESOLUTION ON PROGRAMME OF ACTION

In order to maintain the tempo and striking mood of the workers and also to educate more and more cadres and strengthen the association wherever it is weak the CWC
directs as follows.

1. Convention on CPC and running allowance to be held wherever not conducted in Zonal and Divisional levels.

2. Struggle fund to be collected at the rate of Rs 100 per head. Thirty percentage (30%) of the collected amount to be remitted to the central committee.

3. Action committee to be formed in Zonal, Divisional and Branch level. The general guidelines are that, it shall consist of President, Secretary, Treasurer and one each from Joint Secretaries and Asst.Secretaries.

4. MAY DAY -conventions to be organized in Branch level inviting all possible political leaders, sister unions and families of loco running staff. All issues regarding the HOER to be discussed including our programme of action seeking their support.


5. BGMs wherever due to be completed before 15th June 2009.

6. Sufficient wall writings, Notices and leaf lets shall be released to educate the cadre and seeking support of sister trade unions and General public.

7. NF Railway should conduct the Zonal working committee meeting in the 1st week of May in which Com.M.N.Prasad, Com.N.B.Dutta and Com.N.Sarkar will attend.
N Railway meeting to be called at central office at Ghaziabazd on 8th May. In case General Secretary fails to call the meeting President will call the meeting and Com.M.N.Prasad will attend.
NE Railway meeting to be called at Gorakpur on 9th May. Secretary General will attend.
EC Railway meeting to be called at Musafferpur on 10th
May. Secretary General will attend.
SC Railway meeting to be called in the last week of April at a convenient place in consultation with Com.T.Hanumaiah duly informing President and Secretary General.
W Railway Com. Luna Ram is directed to fix up the date and venue of ZWC meeting in the month of April 2009 in consultation with Secretary
General.

ORGANISATIONAL DECISIONS

1. Central BGM will be conducted at Nagpur on 26th and 27th June 2009.
2. The number of delegates will be fixed strictly on the basis of membership for the year 2008.All zones are requested to remit the statement of membership with central quota within one month to fix up the number of delegates for each Zone. The list of delegates and visitors attending the BGM should be sent to reception committee of BGM well in advance to make convenience for accommodation.
3. The delegation fee will be Rs 450 per delegate/visitors excluding CWC members.
4. The ZWC meeting of Central Railway to be held at Nagpur on 5th April 2009 to finalize the details of BGM .Com.M.N.Prasad will attend.
5. All Branches and Divisions are requested to forward the enclosed letter to
concerned state Election Commission and DRMs.


Secretary General

M.N.Prasad

Chennai / 26.03.09.

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