An overwhelming number of employees of the Southern Railway favoured an indefinite agitation in the eventuality of failure of negotiations with the Government regarding the charter of demands submitted by them, according to N Kannaih, working president, All India Railwaymen Federation.
Out of the 89,100 employees of the Southern Railway, 77, 361 workers voted in favour of an indefinite agitation in the Strike Ballot held last week. Announcing the results of the Strike Ballot, Kannaiah said 86.8 per cent of the workers were for the strike.
He said the results of the Strike Ballot would be forwarded to the AIRF for future course of action.
The charter of demands submitted to the Government by the railwaymen include rectification of anomalies in the recommendations made by the Sixth Pay Commission and reservation of jobs for the wards of workers who die while on duty.Kannaiah said more than 1,000 railwaymen lose their lives every year in accidents and attacks by extremist forces.