Railway employees to observe protest week

New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) The functioning of Railways is likely to be severely affected with its 14 lakh employees deciding to observe protest week during April 7-12 against the ''retrograde'' recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.

The decision to observe the protest week all over the country was taken by All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF), a leading trade union of railway employees, at a meeting here today.

AIRF General Secretary J P Chaubey said the railway employees would observe the protest week by holding meetings, rallies, sit-ins and demonstrations against the ''retrograde recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, outsourcing of railway activities, ban on recruitment and non-filling of vacancies.'' The Group 'B' officers of Indian Railways have also alleged that they have been given a raw deal by the Sixth Pay Commission and appealed to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to take up their cause with the government to rectify the anomalies in their proposed salary structures.

''The Defence Sevices chiefs have taken up the cause of those in the Forces who are feeling aggrieved because of the recommendations of the Central Pay Commission. We expect that the Railway Minister will take a similar stand,'' Indian Railways Promotee Officers' Federation (IRPOF) said.

It also threatened to launch a nationwide agitation along with other federations of railway staff if its demand went unheeded.

UNI/SKS LS DB2029