Pakistan railway workers protest for their rights

On 2nd June 2011, railway workers of the shed department in Multan and many other cities of Pakistan arranged protests for a rise in salaries, T.A [Technical Allowance] & D.A [Daily Allowance] payments, holiday allowances, shift allowances and scale up in gradation.

Workers were threatened with dismissal before the day of protest, which meant many workers couldn’t participate. But even then there were enough workers to arrange the protest and stop the work in their department for three hours, due to which management had to face the rage of the passengers. Yet no demand has been met. The positive thing, however, is that this was the first protest on this scale in the last three years planned by the Railway Shed Staff Workers’ Union. The pocket [yellow] union leaders have for some time betrayed the workers on the railways and enjoyed good relations with management. This protest was arranged by the lower layers of the unions because of high inflation rate and extremely low wages.

In most of the departments in Pakistan Railways, jobs start from scale 2, which means the basic salary is not more then Rs 2,550 (approx. $30) per month. And workers who have worked for more then 20 years in either the Locomotive Shed dept, Carriage & Wagon dept and Gang man staff (Railway line maintenance department) hardly get Rs 16,000 ($188.23) to 20,000 ($235) per month. Workers with 10-15 years of experience on the Railways get more or less Rs 10,000 ($117.64) per month salary!

June 2011 - Multan railway workers demonstrating There is also another issue. Last year in the severe floods railway staff worked in remote areas for which they were supposed to be paid T.As, but these are still unpaid. The majority of the workers are hardly able to feed, educate and provide healthcare for their families. The increased prices of food items, electricity, and transport and with wages that never increase in line with inflation are all making their lives miserable.

The demands of the workers are:

1. Rise in salary linked to inflation.
2. 25 % of wages be given as Technical Allowance.
3. Electricians and Mechanics should be promoted from 7th to 9th scale as per seniority.
4. 5% cut in the salaries should be immediately stopped. (This used to be done earlier so that workers get emergency funds when required, but these funds have been stopped but the cuts haven't).
5. Shift Allowances must be paid.
6. Workers employed under Temporary Labour Appointments Act must be given a rise in salaries as per the promises of Prime Minister.

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