Industrial relations in railways

Budget Speech 2012-13

I assign highest importance to continuance of healthy and harmonious tradition of industrial relations across length and breadth of Indian Railways. In recognition of the commitment of the employees to the organisation and their contribution to increasing the productivity, Indian Railways paid the Productivity Linked Bonus equivalent to wages of 78 days for 2010-11.

Industrial Harmony

  • Indian Railways is one of the biggest employers in the world who employs more than 14 lakhs of employees.
  • In the interest of good and healthy management, relation between labour and management in the Railways should be peaceful and harmonious.
  • By and large the Industrial relationship in Railways was peaceful save during the few strikes organised by the employees.

Labour movement in India

  • ​The trade union movement in India had been the child of industrial development.
  • Even though the labour force could not develop till the first World War, the employers, who were strong formed themselves chamber of commerce, to safeguard their interest and it could greatly influence the Government policies from time to time.
  • ​The first industrial labour organisation was formed in 1918 among textiles workers at Madras, under the leadership of Mr. H.P. Wadia, the father of the Indian Labour Movement. Between 1919 and 1953 many unions were formed.
  • In 1920 the AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress) came into existence, blessed by the Indian National Congress.
  • In 1922, the All Indian Railway men's Federation was formed to which the Railway union were affiliated. 
  • ​As a landmark in the history of Indian Trade Union movement, Trade union Act was enacted in 1926, which gave legal recognition to the registered trade unions.
  • In 1947, there was a split in the AITUC, which resulted in the formation of another union, called Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).
  • In 1947, the Govt. of India had enacted Industrial Dispute Act, to safeguard the interest of the working class.
  • Simultaneously to the formation of INTUC, in 1947 INRWF was also formed in Railways. (Indian Railway Worker Federation).
  • In 1953 AIRF and INRWF joined together and formed NFIR (National Federation of Indian Railway Men).
  • In 1956 AIRF came out and started functioning separately.

Some of the measures taken for smooth Industrial relation in Railways are:

  • Recognition of Railway Employee Unions
  • Permanent Negotiating Machinery (PNM)
  • Fort-Nightly meetings (FNM)
  • JCM & CA
  • Joint Councils
  • Participation of Railway Employees in management(PREM)

Comments

Both have their own perks. you will be getting running allowance as loco pilot but will have to work onboard ie move between one city to another throughout the day in loco cabs...on the other hand technicians have a bit higher pay and fixed working place but they don't get running allowances. If you join as technician and have a diploma in engineering or higher, then you will later be promoted to upper grade technician and then JE.