The 12th zonal executive committee meeting of the East Coast Railway Engineers Association (ECoREA) was held here on Sunday. The association’s office-bearers from three divisions, Khurda Road, Waltair and Sambalpur, headquarters and Mancheswar workshop attended the meeting.
The engineers were dissatisfied over the “step-motherly attitude” of the Railway Ministry towards them as their long-pending genuine demands are not being fulfilled. Their counterparts in other all Central Government departments have been upgraded to Group-B cadre as per India Gazzette notification, but the Railway Board has not implemented it, for which they are losing social status at par others, they said.
Recommendations have been given by several safety committees to recognise their platform, but the Railway Board forced the engineers to remain associated with labour unions by not implementing the recommendations, they said. It was unanimously decided to stage a mass demonstration in New Delhi during the Winter Session of Parliament, and if not fulfilled then they would approach courts of law.
It was also decided not to take mass leaves at present considering safe movements of passengers. The meeting was presided over by association president Sudhamaya Bajapayi and general secretary Bobin Mohanty conducted the meeting. Md Fayaz welcomed the members and at the end SB Satapathy gave the vote of thanks.