14 Lakh Railways Employees Threaten ‘Direct Action’ Over Unpaid Bonus; Will They Stop Working?

In a rare case of employee dissent exhibited at Indian Railways, talks are on for a possible strike over unpaid bonus.

What exactly is happening here? Will Indian Railways employees stop working?

Keep reading to find out more..

Indian Railways Employees Threaten ‘Direct Action’

All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF), which is the most powerful employee union in the Indian Railways with 14 lakh employees has threatened ‘direct action’ over unpaid bonus.

The issue here is the bonus which every Railways employee gets before Durga Puja starts, every year.

But this year, Railways has not provided any bonus, even as Durga Pujo and Navratri has already started.

As per the officials of the trade union, the Railways employees were working non-stop 24*7 during the lockdown and the pandemic, and still their bonus is unpaid.

October 20th has been provided as deadline, and if they don’t receive their bonuses by this date, ‘direct action’ has been threatened.

AIRF general secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said, “It was decided in the meeting that if orders for payment of productivity linked bonus to railwaymen are not issued by the Railway Ministry by October 20, direct action shall be taken on October 22, 2020,”

What Is Direct Action?

A threat of direct action by an prominent employee union wiht 14 lakh members suggest only one thing: Strike.

It seems that if the bonus is not paid till October 20th, 1.4 lakh Railways employee may strike and stop working.

But there is no confirmation about the strike, and stopping work, as the official statement only talks about ‘direct action’.

It may also be a sort of protest, which is carried over entire India, forcing the management to take notice.

The employee union has also raised concerns over privatisation of Indian Railways, and issues related with pension and distribution of dearness allowances and other bonuses.

We will keep you updated, as more details come in.

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