With 96 per cent of members backing its call for an indefinite strike, the All-India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) has decided to begin an the protest ahead of the general election if negotiations fail to yield a settlement.
The AIRF completed counting of votes on Monday after conducting a strike ballot last week.
In what could spell trouble to the UPA government, the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), affiliated to the INTUC — the trade union wing of the Congress that heads the ruling coalition — has decided to go for a strike ballot on January 17 and 18. The NFIR had earlier decided to go for a ballot, but dropped the idea.
AIRF president Shiva Gopal Mishra put the results down to discontent among the workers and to the enthusiasm of 4.5 lakh employees who joined the Railways after January 1, 2004.
More than 7.81 lakh out of the 8.09 lakh members had voted at more than 5,000 centres. Only 25,543 voted against the plan.
Mr. Mishra said that to avoid a showdown, he would first write to the Railway Ministry about the outcome and press for an early settlement of the 36-point charter of demands. The AIRF had no political ambition, he said.
However, one should strike when the iron was hot, and it would call an indefinite strike before the elections to pressure the government.
The AIRF would serve the statutory 45-day notice on the Railways sooner than later because it planned to serve the second and final notice of 15 days, he said. All this would have to be done before the model code of conduct came into effect.
Demanding the withdrawal of the new pension scheme, Mr. Mishra said the government was free to help corporates but not at the cost of workers as the money parked in the equity market only heightened their insecurity rather than guaranteeing them income after retirement. The plan to restructure the cadre would cut at least 70,000 posts, he said.
Stressing that he was against causing the economy any damage, Mr. Mishra said a negotiated settlement would be the best alternative.
However, if the government refused to withdraw the pension scheme, the AIRF would have no option but to strike work.
In his estimate, the Railways would loss over Rs. 800 crore every 24 hours if the AIRF were to strike for the fourth time in its 80-year history.
