WARANGAL: All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) general secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra on Thursday called upon young railway employees to unite and strengthen the workers’ movement to oppose privatisation of the Railways and safeguard employees’ rights. He urged them to be prepared for a strike, if necessary, to press for the filling of vacancies, higher minimum pay under the 8th Pay Commission and resolution of other workers’ issues.
Addressing a youth convention organised by the Secunderabad Division of the South Central Railway Mazdoor Union at its central office in Secunderabad, Mishra said Indian Railways had around 2.20 lakh vacancies that needed to be filled immediately. With private companies expanding their presence in the railway sector, he stressed the need to strengthen trade unions to protect the public sector institution and workers’ interests.
He said the federation was demanding a minimum basic pay of ₹65,000 under the 8th Pay Commission. Mishra assured railway employees that he would strongly raise their demands at the National Council of the Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) meeting scheduled for October 30.
Recalling the century-long history of struggles associated with the red flag, he said the younger generation of railway employees had a responsibility to protect the rights secured through sustained workers’ movements and pass them on to future generations.
South Central Railway Mazdoor Union general secretary Dr CH Shankara Rao said the number of trains and the workload had increased, but vacancies remained unfilled. He claimed that around 1.10 lakh vacancies existed in the South Central Railway zone alone and demanded their immediate filling.
He urged young employees to take an active role in addressing workers’ grievances and strengthening the trade union movement.
Diesel Loco Branch secretary of the South Central Railway Mazdoor Union Paka Veda Prakash, SK Jani Mia, G Rajesh Rao, Mahesh Babu, Ramula Sadanandam and others participated in the programme.
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