Kerala   

Loco pilots’ flash strike disrupts train services

Thiruvanantapuram: Train services in the State were thrown out of gear for six hours from 2 p.m. on Saturday following a flash strike by a section of the loco pilots affiliated to the All-India Loco Running Staff Association in Thiruvananthapuram railway division.

The strike was in protest against the move by the railways to increase the workload of loco pilots in the new “crew link” and reduce the staff strength. The strike was called off by 8.15 p.m. by the unions after the Railways adopted a tough stand.

Divisional Railway Manager Titus P. Koshy told The Hindu that the agitating loco pilots had said that they were withdrawing the strike. “Normality will be restored only by Sunday morning as several trains are held up in Thiruvananthapuram central, Kollam, Ernakulam and Thrissur railway stations,” he said.

According to the loco pilots, the directive of the Chief Operations Manager of the Southern Railway to increase the workload from Saturday was taken without consultation with the recognised union and taking into confidence the workers.

Mr. Koshy said the Railway Board would take a tough stand towards the union that called for the strike without issuing notice to the Railways.

“They will have to account for the inconvenience caused to thousands of the commuters,” he said.

The “crew link” was part of the measures taken to streamline the running of trains. Mr. Koshy said the rules were clear and the loco pilots were not assigned duty for not more than 10 hours a day. Generally, the loco pilots were on duty for eight hours a day.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs M. Vijayakumar, who holds the charge of Railways in the State, intervened to end the stir.

Thousands of commuters have been stranded in the railway stations in the division following the strike, which was a bolt from the blue for commuters and the railway authorities.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Loco pilots’ flash strike disrupts train services
Arm of the law is stronger than muscle power
Let the arm of law beat muscle power
Next issue
Tuning in to your memories
Minister misquoted
Jairam Ramesh’s warning
Bamboo festival
Colourful life
Alathiyur temple reinstallation
Dangerous course
Racing for pride
Stopped on tracks
Engagements: Palakkad
Jacob seeks measures to contain price rise
Plea for new rail line
Youth forum plans hunger rally
Today at Sabarimala
The stage is set
Landless tribals in the lurch
High command to take decision on Karunakaran

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu