Railway workers will go on an indefinite strike from November 23 if the Union Government fails to stop privatisation and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Indian Railways’ operations. N Kanniah, working president of All-India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF), who is also General Secretary, Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU), made this announcement in Chennai on Wednesday, during a hour-long stir in support of the all-India strike called by ten labour unions. Kanniah had issued a similar warning in 2013 but he did not take any action at that time.
Described as the most powerful person in Southern Railways by staff as well as executives of Indian Railways, Kanniah reminded his followers that the Union Government had announced 100 per cent FDI in Railways in 2014.
"The Railway Minister said that FDI worth Rs8.5 lakh crore would be mobilised by the Railways. Despite a cold response from private companies, the Central Government has persuaded life Insurance Corporation to invest Rs1.5 lakh crore in Indian Railways. This is the hard-earned money of the people and we will not allow this to happen. This is because Indian Railways is incapable of paying 9 per cent interest on this investment," said Kanniah, a ticket examiner-turned-trade union leader.
He also came down strongly on the Union Government for its decision to extend the term of the Central Pay Commission to December 31, 2015 from August 31, 2015.
"This has created widespread uncertainty among Railwaymen and Central Government staff regarding timely submission of the report before December and the implementation of the revised pay scales by January 2016. This sort of attitude has strengthened the resolve of Railwaymen and Central Government employees to go on an indefinite general strike from November 23, without bothering about the serious repercussion on the nation’s economy and inconvenience to passengers and the public,” Kanniah warned the Government.
The last major strike by Railway workers was held in May 1974, which lasted 20 days and resulted in arrests of thousands of workers under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act