Editorial 2nd Quarter 2018

 FIRE              MAGAZINE             EDITORIAL              MAY            2018                                                                          

                                                    

                                        Thota Hanumaiah               Chief Editor

The All India Loco Running Staff Association extends its revolutionary greetings to the working class and toiling masses across the Globe and expresses solidarity in their fight against the internationally prevailing exploitative neoliberal Capitalist order. The Association reiterates its commitment to socialism and its resolve to continue its struggle for a society, free from all sorts of exploitation. May Day, the traditional day for working class solidarity, is being celebrated around the world by workers, trade unions and political parties linked to the working class and toiling masses.

The All India Loco Running Staff Association has held numerous struggles, the recent one being the successful nationwide observance of black days on 14^th, 15th, & 16^th of May, 2018, as a protest, wearing black badges by more than ONE LAKH Running staff besides holding massive demonstrations on 16^th May, 2018, before the DRMs offices of all divisions, throughout India; demanding 1.Revision of running allowance rates as per the RAC 1980 Formulae, 2. Rectification of anomalous orders No: RBE 13/2018 dated 24-01-2018 in the matter of revision of pension and to ensure parity in pension between the pre and post 01-01-2016 running staff pensioners/ family pensioners.

These agitational programmes are in addition to the other programmes conducted earlier, against the apathy being shown by the Government, in resolving their burning issues pertaining to Revision of low pay levels allotted to them in 7^th CPC; to with draw the draconian orders directing the disciplinary authority to impose the penalty of removal from service, in the cases of signal passing at danger; to implement high power committee recommendations on duty hours and rest period in letter and spirit; to reduce the duty hours to 8 hours a day and to restrict duty hours of mail and express crews to 5 hours  a day; replacement of assistant loco pilot with co-pilot on super fast trains; to restrict stay away from head quarters to 48 hours; to provide weekly rest of 40 hours; to raise the pay level of ALP on par with ASM; to merge the pay level of LP Shg. Gr. 1&2 into pay level 6; to allot distinctly different higher levels of pay to each category of loco pilots and guards; to stop working of trains without guard; to scrap NPS and restore statutory pension to all those recruited from 2004 also; to grant additional allowances to ALPs & guards goods etc;

It is to be viewed with utmost concern about the increasing inequalities under neoliberalism with the richest 1% cornering more than half of Global wealth produced by the sweat and blood of the toiling masses. This wealth is amassed by increasing exploitation of the working people,cronyism,evading taxes and grabbing public properties and natural resources Viz;land,forests,mines,water, and displacing poor peasants,Adivasis and others,

We Denounce the continuing onslaught on labour rights in the name of labour reforms to facilitate and promote the “ease of doing business”, rather “ease of looting the people and the nation” with the ultimate aim of weakening and demolishing trade unions, the organised force of the working class. We reiterate our firm commitment to resist imposition of slavery on the working people and stoutly defend their rights.

The May Day is the day of pledge by working class all over the world to carry forward the working class struggle initiated by our yester years generations against the slavery working conditions, oppressive and exploitative regime and to defend the hard won rights and labour laws besides shouldering the responsibility to attain the socialist society, for ensuring well being of every person in the society.

         

The AILRSA, appeals to the Loco men to seriously prepare with utmost unity and strength to wage bitter struggles, at the call of AILRSA, to resolve and achieve our long pending genuine demands and grievances.  

                              Down with Imperialist led Neoliberal Globalisation.

         Long Live Socialism.        Workers of the world Unite.      AILRSA ZINDABAD.

 

                                                       THOTA HANUMAIAH.