Striking loco pilots refute DRM chargesThe All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) is on strike, demanding increased rest hours for loco pilots. They refute claims that the strike is limited to Kerala or instigated by retired staff, stating that it involves most Southern Railway divisions. Their demands include limiting duty hours to 10, restricting continuous...
more... night duty to two, increasing periodic rest, and limiting time away from headquarters. They argue that current rest arrangements are discriminatory compared to other railway staff. The AILRSA denies claims that the strike affects train services or increases workload for other staff, and accuses the Railway Senior Divisional Electric Engineer of intentionally delaying trains to provoke passenger complaints. They also demand an increase in the number of loco pilots for goods trains in the Palakkad division, citing inadequate staffing levels.
All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) ke members June 1 se strike pe hain, unka demand hai ki loco pilots ko zyada rest hours mile. Unhone Palakkad Railway Divisional Manager (DRM) ke allegations ko reject kiya hai ki retired loco pilots is agitation ke peeche hain. AILRSA ke Palakkad divisional...
more... secretary K.S. Sreeju ne kaha ki retired staff ke strike mastermind hone ka allegation baseless hai. Aur yeh bhi baseless hai ki strike sirf Kerala mein hai. Southern Railway ke saare divisions ke majority running staff is agitation mein shamil hain aur yeh train running ko affect nahi kar raha hai. AILRSA ke members 30 ghante ke periodic ya weekly rest ke baad duty pe nahi ja rahe hain. Woh 46 ghante ka periodic rest le rahe hain, jo authorities ko indiscipline ka act lagta hai. Sreeju ne kaha ki unke demands mein duty hours ko 10 ghante tak limit karna, continuous night duty ko 2 ghante tak limit karna, periodic rest ko badhana, aur headquarters se bahar rehne ka time 48 ghante tak limit karna shamil hai. Unhone yeh bhi bataya ki station masters ki continuous night duty 2 ghante tak limited hai. Woh yeh bhi kahe hain ki normal railway employee har Saturday 5pm pe duty chhodte hain aur Monday 9am pe duty rejoin karte hain, lekin loco pilots jo Saturday 5pm pe duty chhodte hain, unhe agle din 11pm pe duty rejoin karni padti hai. Yeh discriminatory hai. AILRSA ke president P.K. Asokan ne yeh allegation reject kiya ki strike ki wajah se dusre loco staff ka workload badha hai. Unhone yeh bhi deny kiya ki strike se passenger/mail aur goods trains ki running pe koi asar pada hai. Asokan aur Sreeju ne Palakkad ke Railway Senior Divisional Electric Engineer pe train ko delay karne ka aarop lagaya hai aur unhone kaha ki yeh passenger protest ko invite karne ki koshish hai. Unhone yeh bhi kaha ki Palakkad division mein goods trains ko run karne ke liye sirf 107 loco pilots hain, jo ki kaafi kam hai. Goods train loco pilots ki strength badhani chahiye.
