CR workers see red over 28,000 vacant posts
MUMBAI: The National Railway Mazdoor Union, Central Railway (CR), on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) against 28,705 vacant posts in the railways.
Among 1.19 lakh workers, 24% of positions are vacant for almost a year.
With vacancies not being filled by the state government, most have to work overtime, while some are unable to accept promotional designations as there are no replacements. These are having an impact on the functioning of the trains and maintenance of tracks thus impacting passenger safety.
“We held a protest to show our resentment towards overtime and lack of leave causing stress to most employees. This also affects the quality of performance,” said Venu Nair, General secretary of NRMU.
Among the vacancies in CR, around 30% are positions in the mechanical department and 28% in the electrical department. “Both these departments are crucial for the regular functioning of railways,” added Nair. A 38-year-old employee appointed as pointsman has been promoted to guard but is not able to resume duties due to vacancies.
“As there are fewer people in every team we have to ensure that important posts are filled. For almost a year now I continue to work as a pointsman despite having a promotion to work as a guard,” said an employee of CR on condition of anonymity.
AROUND 30% POSITIONS ARE VACANT IN THE MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT AND 28% ARE VACANT IN THE ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT.
Similarly, another employee who works as tracksman or patrolling staff says that he has been working overtime for almost a month now. “As per rules, after every eight hours, we are supposed to get rest.
Instead, they give us compensatory rest wherein we can take time off later. However this compensatory rest continues to accumulate and I have been working overtime now for quite some time,” he said on condition of anonymity.
Shivkumar Mishra, General Secretary, of All India Railway Federation, said, “There are teams that have hardly 50% staff, in place of 16 only eight are working. Positions like tracksman, and pointsman are those who keep a check on the railway track and its maintenance. Their work is of utmost importance as safety is dependent on them.”