IN SUPPORT OF DEMANDS: Railway employees taking out a procession in Hubli on Tuesday.

HUBLI: Members of the South Western Railway Employees' Sangha and the South Western Railway Mazdoor Union took out a procession here on Tuesday and served a strike notice on the railway administration following the plan to launch an indefinite strike on March 1.

The procession, which began at the railway workshop here, passed through the main roads before converging at the office of the General Manager, South Western Railway, where a public meeting was held.

The procession was held and a strike notice was served in response to a call given by trade unions seeking the fulfilment of the major demands of Union Government employees.

K. Anand Rao, general secretary, Employees' Sangha, and A.M. D'Cruz, general secretary, Mazdoor Union, addressed the protestors before serving the notice on the Chief Personnel Officer of the railway.

Explaining the reasons for the proposed indefinite strike, Mr. Rao said the employees' unions are not putting forward any new demand.

"We are only seeking the implementation of the agreement reached on September 11, 1997, between the unions and the Centre," he said.

Despite protests, the Government is downsizing the staff and outsourcing works. The awards of the Board of Arbitration are yet to be implemented by the authorities concerned, which has led to dissatisfaction among the employees, he said.

Mr. Rao alleged that the Joint Consultative Machinery constituted at the national level in 1966 to settle differences between the Union Government and its employees has become defunct owing to the inaction of the Centre.

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