NEW DELHI: The railways could
be heading towards the first nation-wide indefinite strike in 39 years which
would affect the lives of millions.
The railways' largest
employees' union -- the All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) -- has given a
call to more than 10 lakh workers associated with it to go for a 'strike
ballot' on Friday and Saturday, starting a process that could bring the
national transporter to a halt by the end of this month.
In the secret ballot, all employees would vote for or against the
strike call and the mandate to agitate or otherwise would be announced on
Monday.
The employees are pressing
for a charter of demands that include guaranteed pension scheme and quota for
the wards of employees in railway recruitment, flexible timings for women and
ministerial staff, and exempting women railway employees from night shifts in
the open line.
AIRF general secretary Shiva
Gopal Mishra told TOI that railway workers were frustrated with the government,
which has been insensitive to their demands and had gone back on several
promises.
"Railway ministry as
well as government of India is quite indifferent and have not resolved our
long-pending demands, we have no other alternative except to resort to strike
ballot," Mishra said.
"The result of strike
ballot will be available on Monday and based on that AIRF will chalk out
further strategy," he added.
More than 1,000 voting
centres have been established where employees can cast their votes. Ballot
papers have been printed in different languages.
Mishra said the general mood
was to go for indefinite strike as most of the long-pending demands were
ignored by the railways.
The last railway strike was
led by George Fernandes as AIRF leader in 1974, following which the government
declared a state of emergency. AIRF is in talks with other unions to take them
on-board for the general strike.
