NFIR

National Federation of IndianRailwaymen 3, CHELMSFORD ROAD,NEWDELHI.110 055 Affiliatedtt : lndian NationalTrade Union Gongress(INTUC) InternationalTransportWorkers'Federation(lTF)

No. IVA{FIR/7IhCPC/CORRES(R.B.)

Dated:0810212016

The Member Staff, RailwayBoard, New Delhi Dear Sir, Sub: Retrograderecommendations of 7ft CPC- seriousstaff unrest-reg. * rl. rF>F* * *,F rl.

During the meetingheld betweenthe Railway Board (CRB, MS, FC etc.) and both the Federationson 0410212016, the Federations(NFIR & AIRF) have conveyedtheir unhappiness and seriousresentmentagainstthe retrogradeand perverserecommendations of 7tnCentralPay Commission.The Federationshave also been very categoricalin conveying to the Railway Boardthat almostall categoriesof staff areupsetand extremelyunhappyover the injusticedone to Railway employees.The Federationshave insistedupon the Railway Ministry to step in, for ensuringjustice to staff. Respondingto the points raised by the Federations,the Board (CRB, MS), have suggestedto give specific casesfor facilitating the Railway Ministry to consider and take necessary actionat appropriatelevel for mitigatingthe injustice. In this connection,thejoint proposalof Federations(NFIR and AIRF) containingspecific issuesis enclosedfor favourabledecision. Yours faithfull Encl as above (in five pages).

q,

(Dr. M. Raghavaiahf GeneralSecretary Copy to the Addl: Meirber Staff, Railway Board, New Delhi for information and necessary actionplease.copy ofjoint proposalof Federations is enclosed(five pages). Copy to the ExecutiveDirector, PC-II, Railway Board,PragatiMaidan, DFCC Building, Metro Blavan, New Delhi forinformation and necessary actionplease. lCopy to the GeneralSecretaries of affiliatedUnionsof NFIR. Media CentreA{FIR.

Phone: 011-23343305,65027299, Rly.030-22283,22626, Fax: 011-23744013, Rly.22382,Telegram : RATLMAZDOR E-mail: [email protected]; dr.mr@ india.com, Website : www.nfirindia.org

EARLYDETECTION OF HIVI AIDS. PROLONGS QUALITYOF LIFE

AIRF/NFIR/2015

Dated: February 8,2016

RETROGRADEREG9MMET{DATIONS gF +HE 7t.h GPG - .qERIOUSSTAFF UNREST JOINT PROPOSALOF THE FEPERATIgNS(AI,RF.AND NFIR) TheFedeiations leelsadto conveythatthe7thCPChasnotgivenanyweightage to theunique, complex andhazardous nature of duties of theRailway employees belonging to various categories, Thenegative recommendations ofthe7ttCPChavegenerated angerandfrustration among almost allthesections ofthe Railway employees in general besides among theTechnical (JEs'SSEs), Supervisors Technicians in various Technical Departments, Loco& TrafficRunning Staff,lt is unfortunate to mention that,longerhours of duty,"Excluded" classification underHOER, availability at alltimesto takecall,working at remote places without basicnecessities of lifearealthough unique to theRailways anditsemployees, these factors weretotally ignored bythe7thCPCwhilerecommending revised PayMatrix levels. Weplacebelow briefdetails of thecategories of thestaffsubjected to graveinjustice andspecially urge uponthe Railway Ministry to takethe issuesto theGovernment for improving the ZtnCPCpay-Matiix levels, (i)

,

(JEs& SSEs) Technical Supervisors Junior Engineers andSenior Section Engineers in Permanent Way,Works, Bridges, Track ' Machines, Carriage & Wagon, Loco, Mechanical, Electrical, S&Tetc.,areshouldering greater responsibilities andproviding fulltechnical support to theRailways in ensuring mainlenance, prevention troubleshooting, of failures andun-interrupted flowof services round-the-clock. While entryqualification ofJunior Engineers pluslnduction is "Diploma training, Graduate Engineers areinducted asSSEin GPRs,4600/(PB-2), Vastmajority of thiscalegory is of qualified technically engineers whoareclassified as "Excluded" underHOERandare expected tobeavailable ondutyround-the-clock for24hours a day.There growth isnocareer 'C'highest atalltothiscategory astheGroup Grade PayisRs.4600/(PB-2) only, thereby the directly recruited technocrats fromopenMarket inGPRs.4600/willcontinue to remain inthe. 'B' same recruitment Grade Payexcept a veryfewwhomayreach thelever ofGroup (Gaz.). While the7thCPChasaccepted (para11.40.113) thatthereis anelement of stagnation at SSElevel, theCommission hasunfortunately, notmade anyspecific recommendation fortheir careerprogression. TheSSEsin addition to theirsupervisory andtechnical dutiesare custodians ofstores/material worth crores ofrupees andequally responsible forestablishment matters ofthestaffworking under theircontrol. lt is relevant totakenotethatSSEshadinthe pastwereallotted payscaleof Rs.840-10401840-1200 (3rdCPC),whichwaslowered down overa period of timebythesuccessive PayCommissions, givenbyRailway thustheAward Labour Tribunal, headed byJusticeN.M.Miabhoy andaccepted by theGovernment wai scuttled, lt is alsoto benoted thatvertical andhorizontal relativities weredisturbed since 4th period CPC onwards pay as the Sr. Technician and JE are in oneandthesameGrade of -'Rs,4200/-

There is,therefore, needforplacement of JEs& SSEsin higher levels of PayMatrix of 7tn CPC, i,e.atlevel 8 & level progression 9 withproviso forfurther career tothehigher PayMatrix levels, treating these levels aspartofthecadpwithappropriate (Gazetted). status (ii)

Teqhnicians in Railwavs TheTechnicians in various departments of the Railways are performing the dutiesof mainienance of tracks, assets, buildings, equipments, rolling stock, Signal/ielecom assets, overheadequipments of ElectricTractionon Open Line, PoH activitiesin Workshops/manufacturing activities jobsunder inProduction Units andvarious other technical theopenskyin allweather conditions, pollutions facing noise/dust yards, in sheds, depots, stations, throughout tracklengths andalsoonrunning trains, The7tnCPChasignored duties performed of unique nature by thetechnicians in allshiftsround-the-clock, whicharenot comparable withthe technicians of anyotherministry/department. TheTechnicians are extremely unhappy andagitated overinjustice donebythe7thCPC. TheRailway Ministry had, in fact,'agreed for merger of Technician-ll withTechnician-l in GPRs.28001 (PB-l), but, however, thesaidproposal wasprocrastinated pending andkept foryears bytheMinistry of Finance, TheGovernment, wearesure,willadmit thattheduties andresponsibilities of the Railway Technicians areunique andnotcomparable withtheTechnicians working elsewhere. TheRailway Technicians, therefore, deserve tobegiven payscales higher replacement inthe PayMatrix fortheircareer growth toPayMatrix level 7 as"Master Technician". * Incidentally, it ismentioned thatover6 lakhs employees belonging toTechnicians category are extremely unhappy overtheinjustice donebythe7tnCPCwhilerecommending thelevels in theRevised PayMatrix. lt would, therefore, benecessary toimprove 7thCPCPayMatrix levels forTechnicians.

(iii)

Runninq Staff (a) LocoPilotCateqory qualification Theentry ofAsstt. LocoPilots GPRs.'1900/isMatriculation pluslTl (NCVT). Thoseselected through RRB,afterclearing theAptitude TestandAye-One standard medical examination aregiven rigorous training ingeneral andsubsidiary (open rules line) forperforming trainrunning duties inallweather conditions. lt isunfortunate that,theALp Category hasbeengiven normal replacement PayMatrix levels inplace ofexisting Grade PayRs.1900 and24001. Thisis a unique category which deserves improved PayMatrix levels. TheHighLevel Safety Review Committee headed byShriAnilKakodkar, infact, recommended forupward revision of entryqualification "Diploma as in Engineering" (para6.3),butunfortunately, saidrecommendation hasnotbeenconsidered by the Railway Ministry asalsotheVllCPC. '

ItissadtonotethatthePayCommission videpara11.40. 63hasconcurred withtheviews of RaiMay Ministry stating that"effectiveness of theLocoPilotscanbeimproved by revamping their trainingratherthan enhancing the minimumeducational qualification" in spiteof thefactthatthestaffof thiscategory areexpected to possess knowledge on technical aspects of 19typesof locomotives, whicharecontinuously

upgraded withfurtherimproved technology, lt would,therefore, be necessary to abolish GPRs,1900f inthecaseofALPcategory andupgrade GPRs.2400f to GPRs.2800f for placement inthePayMatrix atappropriate levels, The7thCPChasfailedto rectifythe6thCPCanomalies of paystructure of LocoPilot category, whichhasresulted in continuance (Shunting), of LocoPilot LocoPilot(Goods), LocoPilot (Passenger) andLocoPilot (Mail)in oneandthesameGradePayof GP Rs.4200falthough the responsibilities and accountabilities are higherwhentheyare promoted process afterrigorous training andthrough selection fromthesameGradePay justification to sameGradePay.Thereis, therefore, for allotment of higherpayMatrix levels(Level 7 & Level8)to LocoPilotCategory. Incidentally, it is mentioned thatwhenthesthCPChaddoneinjustice to theLocoPilot (Mail) category, theissuewastakenupbytheFederations atthelevelof Government, and theUnionCabinet hadapproved forallotment of PayScaleof Rs.6000-9800 to theLoco Pilot(Mail/Express) w.e.f.01/10/1996, upgrading it fromRs.5500-9000 as recommended bythesthCPC.Unfortunately, 6thCPChasbrought downthePayScaleto GPRs.42001 whichisequivalent tothatof LocoPilot(Goods). (b) TrafficRunninq Staff The7thCPChasfailedto rectify theanomalous PayStructure of TrainGuards category. Whilethe entryGradePayRs.28001 of Guard (Goods) is continued, the Sr. Goods Guard,Passenger aswellas Mail/Express Guards areplaced in replacement PayMatrix of GP Rs.4200, thusthe GradePayis oneandthe sameevenon promotion withno adequate motivational benefit. In thecaseof Station Master Category, theTttrCPChas rightly recommended abolition of GPRs.28001 ontheground thattheentryqualification is "Graduation", but unfortunately, for TrainGuardCategory, thoughthe educational qualification is Graduation similar to thatof the Station Master, theexisting GradePay Rs.2800f hasnotbeenupgraded to GPRs,4200f. Thereis,therefore, needto upgrade thePayMatrix levels ofTrainGuards dulyabolishing entryGPRs.2800/(PB-l). (iv)

'C' Seriousdiscontentment andfrustration amongtheApexGroup GradeSupervisory Officials presentation In spiteof effective madeby theFederations beforethe7thCPCjustifying the 'C' needto recommend Gazetted statusto theApexGroup Supervisory Officials in various departments, the7thCPChasunfortunately notgivendueweightage to several validpoints placed beforeit,TheSupervisory Officials in Railways areperforming multifarious dutiesand theirduty hoursin eachday are unlimited and they are accountable for any lapses, irregularities, failures etc.Theyarenotevenentitled to availweekly restunderHOER. These are important fieldofficials who contribute punctuality, quality,safetyand for efficiency, productivity, TheFederations, therefore, urgeto taketheissueto theGovernment forgranting themGroup'B' Gazetted Status,

(v)

Therearesomeaberrations in the7t' CPCreportin respect of designation andGradePayof certaincategories of staff,Thoseare requiredto be corrected in consultation with the Federations (e,9.para11.40,62page740ofTtnCPCreport).

(vi)

The7tt'CPChasrecommended changes in promotional channel anddirectrecruitment in certain cases. Thesearerequired to bediscussed withFederations before takinga finalview - page738and11,40.69 (para. - page742of 7rhcpc reporti, 11.40.1 and11.40.70

(vii)

A jointCommittee of theRaiMay BoardandboththeFederations should beconstituted to take into consideration the proposals made by the Federations throughtheir respective memorandums tothe7thCPC,listoutissues ofeachcategory of Railway employees whichare needed to be addressed proper for allotment of PayScalesandotherbenefits/ incentives within theprescribed timeframe,

(viii) Running Staffrelated issues - page310and311(para Attention is invited to7tnCPCreport B.11.iB & 8.11.19 relating to Running Allowance etc.,forRunning staff). Inthiscontext, wesuggest that:(a) ln thewakeof TAbeing multiplied by2.25andrevised ratessoarrived at,therates of Running Allowance arerequired to berevised dulytaking 21daysrevised TAplus30%PayElement fo-r arriving attherevised rateofRunning Allowance totheRunning staff. (b)Thepercentage PayElement forRunning Staff, i.e,30%and55%forvarious purposes should be continued, (c) Additional Allowance allowed to Running Staffshould betreated as"Pay"forallpurposes. (d)Theexisting procedure adopted forfixation of payof Running staffon revised payscaleshould continue.

(e) Theprocedure foradding30%of payfordeployment in thealternative postof appropriate higher PayMatrix level should beensured. (0 Allthebenefits admissible to Running Staffshould continue tilltheyarefinally absorbed in the posts alternative onmedical de-categorization. (g) OnRunning Staff"issues relating to pay,restrulesetc.,a separate notewillfollow(para8.11.1g and8,11.20page310and311ofZthCPCreport). (h) Withregard to RestRules, therecommendations of D.P.TripathiGommittee should bediscussed

andimproved withboththeFederations forreaching consensus.

Theminimum RestHoursfrom"signingoff'should be 16hoursandresthoursplusperiodic rest should benotlessthan40hoursandduring thisperiod, theRunning Staffshould notbbdisturbed,

TheRailways should beexempted fromtheNewF.nrionSystem andtheOldGuaranteed Pension/Family Pension should berestored toalltheRailway employees irrespective oftheir dateofappointment. (x)

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Productivity Linhed Bonus(PLB) Thebilateral agreement arrived atonProductivity Linked Bonus(PLB) should becontinued andimproved, dulyrevising p.m.w,e,f, salary calculation limitto Rs,7000f (para 0110412014 page 15,28 and15.29 861of7tnCPCreport),

(xi)

DressAllowance TheDressAllowance shouldbe revised (Rupees to not lessthanRs.10,000/. Ten Thousand) toallthestaffwhowearuniform while onduty.

d{"w (ShivaGopalMishra)

AIRF

(M.Raghavaiatr)i \ GeneralSecretary NFIR