Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Referendum in Railways begins today

Thiruvananthapuram: Around 40,000 railway employees in the Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad divisions will exercise their secret vote in the first referendum being held in the history of Indian Railways for recognition of trade unions.

Canvassing on behalf of the trade unions in the fray ended on Friday. Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU) general secretary N. Kanniah visited the city as part of the campaign.

SRMU, affiliated to the All India Railwaymen’s Federation; Southern Railway Employees Sangh, affiliated to the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen; Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU) affiliated to the CITU; and some other unions are contesting in the three-day secret voting that will begin on Monday.

According to railway sources, DREU has no recognition from the railway board and is not affiliated to any federation. In other railway zones, including Central, Western and Eastern Railway, the CITU is supporting All India Railwaymen’s Federation affiliated unions.

SRMU has formed categorical councils including Loco Running Staff Council for guards and loco pilots, Commercial Clerk Council for booking clerks, and Enquiry-cum-Reservation Clerk Council for reservation clerks and Station Masters Council for station masters.

The elections are being held as per the direction of the Supreme Court. A decision was taken during the NDA government’s tenure to recognise the Bharatiya Railway Mazdoor Sangh as an official railway union. It was challenged by other railway trade unions.

The Madras High Court stayed the decision and subsequently the Railway Board approached the Supreme Court. The apex court directed the Board to hold a secret ballot for the recognition of unions, on the lines of Food Corporation of India.

As per rules, the union getting 30 or 35 per cent of the votes will be considered as ‘General Manager Recognised Trade Union’ of the respective railway zone. Mr. Kanniah expressed the hope that SRMU would bag the 70 per cent of votes it needed to become the sole recognised union.

Over 15 lakh employees in group ‘C’ and ‘D’ all over India in 1,500 stations in 15 railway zones will vote. In Southern Railway, 120 booths have been set up. In Thiruvananthapuram railway division, there are 11 booths. The counting is on December 3 in Chennai. The validity of the referendum is five years, Railway sources said.

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