AISMA-60 Part-II
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AISMA-60.........II
While we are marching towards the Diamond Jubilee (1953-2012) of this Association, it was an effort to bring out our History, for the knowledge of the new comers and for refreshing the seniors.
AISMA FROM LATE 70s – From SIVAN PILLAI ERA
Now coming back to History of Trade Union movement in Railways, there were only three Strike calls in all India level – first one jointly in the name of ‘Great Peninsular Railway men’s Union’, next one individually by AIRF and the last one by NCCRS ‘National Coordination Committee of Railway men’s Struggle’. First and the third one only were conducted successfully. We have dealt with the first Strike in the year 1924 in the previous issue. The third one was conducted by NCCRS, formed with Mr. George Fernandez as its convener and Twelve other members – two each from AIRF, AIREC, AILRSA, CITU, AITUC and BRMS. (Thus AIREC had four members as constituents of NCCRS – two in the name of AIREC & two for AILRSA). What necessitated including four from categorical associations in this committee as members? It was because of the fact as said earlier that the employees, especially that of open line, that too Loco Running Staff and Station Masters had lost hope on both Recognized Federations, namely NFIR and AIRF.
It will be appropriate to give you the list of events that took place before coming to a conclusion of forming this committee (NCCRS):
The idea of forming a federal body of categorical associations was mooted out by Com. R. N. Ghosh, the then SG during the central AGM at MDU in the year 1970 and AIREC was formed after full fledged meeting at NDLS in the year 1972, comprising of 15 categorical associations.
The movement of categorical associations gained momentum in the year 1973, since many of the railway employees felt dejected by the recommendations of the 3rd Pay Commission. The recommendations were below the expectations. Utterance about Entitlement of Railway Employees also for Bonus on par with other industrial undertakings was the minimum expectation from the 3rd CPC by every railwaymen then.
In the absence of any, it was the categorical associations to raise their voice first against the administration. Major agitations conducted by these associations are:
1. Total strike conducted by the Loco Running Staff Association paralyzed the train movements. The leader of that Association was invited by the Minister of Railways and an agreement was reached, acceding to the demands of Loco Running Staff.
2. AISMA/Varanasi division of Eastern Railway launched an agitation. It was reported in the ‘Times of India’ edition of 23rd & 24th September 1973. This finds a place in the book ‘The Indian Railway Strike of 1974’ – pages 187 & 188: ‘In September 1973, the Station Master’ Association in Varanasi division of the North Eastern Railway went on a four-day Strike, defeating an attempt by the local management to victimize the office-bearers of the Association. Most trains in the division were stopped and when the strike threatened to spread in other Divisions, the GM of NER intervened and acceded to most of the workers demands’.
3. A Joint ‘Work to Rule’ agitation was launched by three associations, namely, AISMA, Train Examiners Association and Technical Supervisors Association in the first week of February 1974. This was also recorded in the above book, in page Number 188: ‘In the first week of February 1974 a combined work-to-rule by the Train Examiners’ Association, Station Masters’ Association and Technical Supervisors’ Association caused chaos in the coal and steel belt of Eastern India for about a week. The Train Examiners would strictly enforce the Rules and declare a wagon ‘Sick’ and the SM would then refuse to permit it to be used. The agitation, in protest against the findings of the third pay commission, eventually forced the RB to alter the pay scales of relevant categories’.
4. A decision had been taken by the Special Convention of AIREC conducted at MAS on 15.02.1974 to commence a work-to-rule agitation from 14/15th May 1974.
Formation of NCCRS and the ‘All India Railway Strike 1974’ was the development of the sequence of agitations referred above. AIRF had to prove that the federation was for the cause of Railwaymen. M.N. Bery, the then CRB had passed the following remark about AIRF & NFIR: “According to the Socialist M.P. Madhulimaye, they (AIRF & NFIR) were constantly seeking some petty corruption, some petty advantage, some petty patronage. They were totally under the thumb of the Railway Board, the Railway management.”
The NFIR left unmoved by the above statement but the AIRF acted otherwise. Thus the decision to commence Strike from 8th May 1974 was taken by the NCCRS. But it was commenced a week earlier, i.e. from 2nd May 1974 following the arrest of many of the prominent leaders by the central government. This strike lasted for 28 days and it paralyzed both Train movements and the National economy. The role of Station Masters was very vital in the strike. It can be understood from the following words of Stephen Sherlock, in page 3, ‘When striking Station Masters pad-locked the Gates of the huge Victoria Terminus station in Bombay in the early hours of 2nd May, they arrested their power of control over one of the greatest symbolic and physical unifiers of the Indian Nation’.
It was how the Historic All India Strike commenced. Let us see in detail about the Historic Strike in the next issue.
The strike was the result of grievances that had built up over two decades as a result of 2nd & 3rd Pay Commissions’ reports, which had caused frustration amongst Railway employees. But the government under the Prime Minister ship of Indira Gandhi considered it as a political challenge. The strike was branded as ‘Political Strike’ by her government and it was used to justify the declaration of Emergency.
Railway Minister Lalit Narayan Mishra precipitately arrested George Fernandes, a Socialist from Goa who was president of the All India Railwaymen's Federation, and other union leaders while they were in the midst of negotiations. One of the unionists died in jail of a heart attack. Mishra claimed authority for his harsh action under India's Maintenance of Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention.
The government unleashed terror on railway servants. The government used (misused) all its machinery to crush the ‘STRIKE’. Press had no freedom to express their views. They had to publish the articles / news only after getting censored. They were also forced the news that were fed by the Government w/o editing them. The inhuman actions of the bureaucracy as well as that of the government to suppress the strike did not reach the public because of this. The Strikers failed to get public and media support. NFIR not only failed to participate in the historic ‘All India Strike’ but also its leaders had gone to the extent of voicing against the strike, “Strike is not necessary. We are very highly paid. Other unions are demanding bonus, for which we are not at all eligible but for ‘Bonus’ soap only.” Whenever you open radio some public will lament, “I am not able to attend my brother’s funeral, marriage” and so on or some NFIR man’s voice. The NFIR men went to the extent of helping the administration in identifying the hide outs of the strikers. The government with the help of NFIR claimed that there was poor response for the strike.
A sample of news from the magazine, ‘TIME’ dated 20th May 1974 -‘Though the government claimed that no more than 8% of the work force responded to Fernandes's call, military men had to be mobilized to man emergency rail services. In Bombay, at least, the strike appeared far more effective than the government claimed. The 1,278 suburban trains that normally carry almost 3 million passengers daily were idle, keeping almost 50% of the city's workers away from their jobs. In many areas, even where minimal train service has been maintained, food prices have jumped 40% to 50% as housewives hoarded such staples as rice and cooking oil.’ Many private and public sector employees, farmers, fishermen, lorry drivers, porters, etc have conducted so many strikes after independence. But none other than railway men have had such a drastic experience.
Following concise list of the price paid by the Railwaymen,for the Indian Railway Strike-1974 is enough to make you understand this:
Workers killed – 4; workers arrested – 50000; families arrested – 3400; convicted / dismissed – 256; removed – 8455 (permanent employees); 78000 (Temporary employees); Reverted – 1358; women raped – 1234; families evicted from Quarters – 34857; Victimization transfers – 5639; suspended – 3644.
But the non-strikers/strike breakers, namely NFIR men got loyal workers increment and an appointment for their wards on loyal worker account. There are some prominent AIRF leader who are the wards of loyal workers.
The next year 1975, in all organizations, including AISMA, was spent in fighting legal battles in various High Courts against the removals and the dismissals. The High Courts of Calcutta, Gujarat, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh struck down all the Removal orders with severe strictures but many of the victimizations continued on the plea of appeals being filed before the higher forum. All the victimizations were cancelled only during the rule of Janatha Government during the year 1977 - 1979, when Mr. Madhudandavathe was the Railway Minister. These are the reasons why no other TUs, except that of ours AISMA and Loco men, are prepared to spell the word ‘STRIKE’.
We can proudly say that it was AISMA to come back with same vigour and gave a strike call in the fourth year itself. Our leaders were wise enough to do it without directly affecting the public and staged a Stay in Strike - ‘Goods Train Line Clear Refusal’ in the year 1978.
The year 1980 happened to be a turning point in our Association and its functioning. The AGM that was held on 24th and 25th of May at Trivandrum elected Com.K.C.Roychoudry as the CP and Com.P.Sivanpillai as the SG. It was at this GB that the grievances of the Station Masters was grouped under 14 different heads which was named as the MAGNA – CARTA of our Association. The agitations of our Associations, which were conducted to make the administration conceding the demands contained in the ‘MAGNA-CARTA’ only see the first ‘Cadre Restructuring’ in Railways.
The fourteen demands were:
1. Integrate the class of SMs and ASMs into Station Masters only, with designation as Station Managers grades I, II, III and IV and Station Manager (Gaz), with lowest grade as 425 – 700 and altogether 4 grades as Rs. 425 – 700; 550 – 750; 700 – 900; 840 – 1040 and Station Manager(Gaz) 840 – 1200. The grades of the SMs should be above the grades of all other categories at the station under his supervision, with Special Pay for supervisory and other departmental duties, to the minimum extent of the mileage treated as pay for all purposes, as in the case of Running Staff – ‘The other Big Two’ with similar effects.
2. Ensure at least parity in percentage distribution in higher grades with similar categories and stop all kinds of Interpolation at any stage/grade whatsoever; and also ensure grade to grade promotion strictly on seniority basis.
3. Avenue of promotions in all the 9 zones should be uniform to the best advantage to this cadre.
4. Restore privilege of Rent free quarters and stop recovery of rent on outlived quarters.
5. Implement the accepted Recommendations of various Tribunals, Commissions and Committees in Toto and in its true spirits.
6. Provision of LRs at 33 1/3 % gradewise and Trainee reserves in all grades in addition with Restroom facilities.
7. Supply of Terricotton cloth and stitching charges or Uniform Allowance in lieu of the present system of supplying stitched uniforms.
8. Grant of all compensatory allowances to the SMs without any discrimination.
9. Posts of train Superintendents to be operated at all divisions and exclusively filled in from among the SMs only.
10. Rank and grade protection to the medically decategorised and declaring the loss of vision under the PME standard as an occupational hazard.
11. Centralized accommodation or free hostel facilities at important towns and cities for the SMs and their children.
12. A unified Transfer Policy with ladder system.
13. Withdrawal of all victimizations.
14. Repeal all black laws and control all arbitrary powers.
Phase wise agitations were conducted; Memorandum signed by 30,000 Station Masters were submitted to the Government of India on 15.11.1980; Demands day was observed on 1.12.80; Historic Movement named ‘Boycott of Drill Cotton uniform’ commenced from this day – 01.12.1980. Dharna was conducted at 165 Centers throughout India on 20.01.1981with participation of more than 20,000 SMs. On 23.2.1981 Mass Rally was conducted at NDLS. It was really a Massive Rally – 10,000 SMs participated and the ceremonial burning of supplied drill cotton uniform took place at the boat club on 23.2.1981.
24 Hours Stay in Strike of Control Phone Boycott was conducted from oo.00 hours on 10.4.19 On successful conduct of the 24 hours Control Phone boycott, hundreds of SMs were removed from service, retired compulsorily, transferred to far end of the country, reduced in grade and pay and other penalties imposed. But all these were only temporary since the strike was legally protected. The victimized members came out unscathed.
Cont. in Part-III.....
( Efforts were taken to write the History, any ommission or commission may please be advised to the web incharge)
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