Another dilemma in queue for the UPA government, two leading railway unions - All India Railway Railwaymen Federation(AIRF) and National Federation of Indian Railwaymen(NFIR) are preparing to lobby for their long-pending demands with a countrywide strike in March.
If both the unions go ahead to make the plan fall in place, then the day will witness the first major strike in railways ever since 1974 strike led by George Fernandes. On feb 17, a general council meeting has been called by AIRF while NFIR has scheduled its meeting on Feb 12 to decide on going ahead with the strike if the government and railways fail to meet their demands.
Almost 95% of workers associated with the unions have voted in favour for a strike in the secret ballot. If the strike happens, railway will have to bear a loss of Rs. 800 crore. To avoid this, the unions are in favour of negotiation.
The demands include stopping on outsourcing of permanent jobs, removing inconsistenies in the Sixth Pay Commission recommendation, authorization of addition posts in consistency with additional workload.
NFIR had previously written to railways and the concerned ministers to push for their demands before the coming vote on account in February.
"We are hoping that government will meet our demand before February 12 as there would be few cabinet meetings in this period," said a NFIR spokesperson.
AIRF general secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said that strike causes huge economical turmoil and so it is a very tough decision to go on strike which is why the union decided to go for a ballot. "Nothing is better than negotiated settlement. We are going to general council meeting with open mind. We would go on strike if left with no other option," he said.
The day and timing of the strike is yet to be decided keeping in mind the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
