Report by correspondent of Mazdoor Ekta Committee
On 10,October 2023, railway drivers organized a ‘hunger fast’ protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. This protest was organized by All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA).
Railway drivers from different divisions of Northern Railways participated in this ‘Hunger Fast’. The loco drivers submitted a memorandum of their main demands to the General Manager of Northern Railway. The main demands raised in the memorandum include –
adequate rest before starting the next shift for all workers, shunting work not to be assigned without a shunting supervisor, basic facilities such as pure drinking water and clean toilet facilities should be made available in all the lobbies of the division, separate toilets should be provided for women running staff and the old pension scheme should be reinstated.
It must be noted that the loco drivers are extremely concerned about railway accidents. They have demanded that the vacant posts of drivers should be filled, so that loco pilots are not forced to drive continuously for 14 hours without rest.