Railway employees protest outsourcing in South Western Railway

Members of South Western Railway Mazdoor Union (SWRMU) staged a protest in Hubballi on October 14 opposing outsourcing and privatisation of core railway activities, and demanding the resolution of long-pending employee grievances.

The demonstration, held in front of the General Manager’s office at Rail Soudha on Gadag Road from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., was preceded by a procession from the union’s main office. Railway employees and union members from the Hubballi, Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Workshop divisions participated.

The union opposed outsourcing in the Electrical, Mechanical, Signal and Telecommunication, and Commercial departments. It demanded the creation of additional posts for Station Masters, ticket-checking staff, and employees in the Traction Distribution, Signal and Telecommunication, Carriage and Wagon, and electrical and diesel shed sections.

The union sought the filling of vacancies across all departments of South Western Railway, and the early conduct of pending General Departmental Competitive Examinations and Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations to facilitate promotions and career progression.

Other demands included expediting inter-railway transfer requests, particularly on spouse grounds; improving facilities and maintenance in running rooms and ticket-checking staff rest rooms; and ensuring the timely supply of quality protective equipment, including shoes, raincoats, water bottles, and torches, to eligible staff.

The union called for regular inspection and maintenance of railway colonies, resolution of the long-pending grievances of track maintainers, and revision of outpatient department timings at railway hospitals.

Addressing the protesters, SWRMU general secretary K.V. Raghavendra, zonal president M. Nagendran, and other union leaders highlighted staff shortage, delay in departmental examinations and promotions, and unresolved service-related issues. They urged the railway administration to take time-bound action on the demands.

A memorandum listing the demands was submitted to the SWR General Manager.