Title - Post-1974, Railway workers plan biggest strike in October for pay hike

Indian Railways employees are going on a major strike in October involving about 1.4 million workers across the country, effectively sending shockwaves to a nation that has not seen any such major strike in the last four decades.The railways is the largest employer and its labour union – the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) – has asked all its 1.4 million workers to strike work seeking implementation of Pay Commission recommendations.AIRF general secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra said the government has failed on its commitments. “We believe in industrial peace, but since we are not considered relevant by the government of the day, we have been forced to show our relevance by resorting to an indefinite strike,” Mishra told ET.Last time the railways took up such major strike in 1974 led by George Fernandes who was the AIRF leader. In fact, the 1974 railway strike was a massive one that forced Indira Gandhi to declare emergency that changed the face of the country.

It remains to be seen how the constituent railway unions respond. “There will have to be a secret ballot where all employees would vote for or against the strike call,” insists Mishra about their support.

said, adding that the AIRF was confident of other unions joining its movement as they have been party to the negotiations with the government and the railway ministry on several issues which have not been resolved.

Since the Communist parties and the Bhartiya Janata Party have relative control on these unions, besides the Congress, parleys between the political parties would be crucial now to resolve the issue.

Moreover, the government can move the apex court to declare the strike void as it is an essential service and any strike that disrupts key services to the citizens can be declared illegal by the government. Even one day’s strike would mean loss of billions of rupees, besides huge dismay to millions of travellers across the country.