No.IV/RSAC/2020

Dated: 15.07.2020

The Secretary (E)
Railway Board
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub : Elimination of line boxes of Loco Pilots & Guards and introduction of Trolley Bags and TABs – reg.

Ref : i) Railway Board’s letter No.2017/Trans/01/Policy dated 07.02.2018.
ii) NFIR’s letter of even No. dated 19.02.2018.
iii)Railway Board’s letter No.2020/E&R/10(3)/1 dated 06.07.2020 to GMs of ER, NR, SCR and WR.

The Railway Board vide letter dated 07.02.2018 (Ref-i) had advised GMs to provide suitable trolley bags and TABs to Loco Pilots and Guards on trial basis on NR and SCR. Accordingly 217 Trolley bags and TABs were introduced for coaching Guards of SC depot of SC division of SCR. For Loco Pilots on SCR, Common Mini Line box was introduced prior to issuance of above referred Railway Board’s letter dated 07.02.2018 and TABs were also issued to coaching Loco Pilots of BZA division of SCR.

In this connection, kind attention is invited to NFIR’s letter dated 19.02.2018 (Ref-ii), wherein several constraints have been highlighted in implementing Board’s guidelines which would cause hardship to running staff and urged to withdraw the relevant instructions contained in Board’s letter dated 07/02/2018.

Railway Board vide letter dated 06.07.2020 (Ref-iii) has advised NR, ER, SCR and WR to report the experience of implementation of trolley bags and TABs. It is however observed that Trolley bags and TABs were so far introduced partially in SC Division of SCR (for Guards only) and BRC Division of WR (for LPs and Guards). Trolley bags were not introduced either for Guards or Loco Pilots in NR and ER.

As already explained in NFIR’s letter dated 19.02.2018 (Ref-ii), the running staff are very unhappy with the proposal of trolley bags in lieu of individual line boxes in view of constraints and practical difficulties mentioned below:

• i) Space in supplied trolley bags is insufficient to keep walkie-talkie with spare battery, HS lamp and LV board (for Guards), night dress, spare uniform, spare spectacles, under garments, bed sheets & towels, slippers, winter/rain coats etc.
• ii) The detonators are explosive material, therefore to carry them in public places such as platforms and on the service roads could be violation of Arms/Explosives Act and Railways Act.
• iii) With these items, the total weight of trolley bag becomes 10Kg plus and is very difficult to carry while coming to duty on two wheeler, walking in yards and also to climb FOBs etc.
• iv) In most of the stations, running rooms are far away from crew lobby and staff need to walk atleast more than a kilometer duly pulling trolley bags on road which is unsafe.
• v) It will also be risky for Loco Pilots/Guards to keep detonators/explosives at residence or with them during transit and bringing trolley from residence to Lobby and back. The working atmosphere of Loco Pilot/Guard is not like that of Air Craft Pilot. The Loco Pilot/Guard has to walk within/outside yard, on rough roads most of the time and not at place like airport, where using trolley bags is not difficult.

NFIR therefore suggests as under, instead of spending huge amount of money for purchasing Trolley bags every year:

• TABs (electronic storage) of all types of books which Loco Pilot and Guard need to carry, may be given to all Loco Pilots and Guards including freight staff.
• All types of tools including flags and detonators pertain to Loco Pilots may be kept as equipment of locomotive (diesel/electric).
• All types of tools including flags and detonators pertain to guards may be kept in Guards SLR in secured and locked condition including freight SLRs
• NFIR, once again requests the Railway Board to kindly review and withdraw the earlier instructions for introducing trolley bags to Loco Pilots and Guards over Indian Railways.

Yours faithfully

(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

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NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110055
Affiliated to :
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

No. IV/RSAC/2018

Date: 03.05.2019.

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi.

Dear Sir,

Sir, NFIR’s protest against Railway Board’s proposal for making Detonators as part of personal safety equipment of Asst. Loco Pilots – Reg.

Ref: Railway Board’s Letter No. 2019/ Safety (A&R) /19/07 dated 18.04.2019.

Pursuant to the proposal of Northern Railway, the Railway Board have since sent communication to all the General Managers seeking views for making provision of Detonators as part of personal safety equipment of Asst.Loco Pilots vide Railway Board’s letter dated 18.04.2019. While protesting against the arbitrary proposal of the Railway Board, the Federation places below valid points for review.

i) At present, the items/ tools being carried by ALP in his personal bag are:

Tri-colour Torch, Red and Green Flags, Working time table(s). Apart from ALP also required to carry one set of additional dress / uniform, night dress, bathroom slippers, water bottle, lunch box, trouble shooting directory etc.

Now, if detonator box is included in personal luggage, then weight of bag will increase and cause difficulty to carry while walking from crew lobby to running room and also in major yards.

(ii) Besides the above, the other complications which would arise if detonators are made part of personal equipments of Asst.Loco Pilots are furnished below:

a) As per G&SR 3.64.1 (b), the Railway Administration shall be responsible for the supply, renewal, periodical testing and safe custody of such detonators and for ensuring that their usage needs to be understood properly.

b) The detonators are explosive material, therefore to carry them in public places such as platforms circulating area etc., could be treated as violation of Anns and Explosive Act.

c) Most of the major stations are provided with metal detectors to ensure safety of public. If Assistant Loco Pilot carries detonators in his personal luggage, it would be objected by Security Personnel.

d) It will also be risky for Assistant Loco Pilots to keep detonators at their residence as it would be impossible for ALP to continuously guard detonator box during his HQ stay.

e) During Pilot/ Spare movement, ALP cannot keep detonators with him in view of the fact that carrying explosives in passenger trains is prohibited.

In view of the above, NFIR urges upon the Railway Board to kindly cancel the Railway Board’s proposal dated 18.04.2019.

Yours faithfully,
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Copy to the Executive Director (Safety), Railway Board, New Delhi
Copy to the Executive Director (IR), Railway Board, New Delhi
Copy to the General Secretaries of Zonal Unions of NFIR
Copy to the Media Centre/ NFIR.

Source: NFIR

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No. II/34/2018

Dated: 26/03/2018

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Guiding norms for imposition of punishment on Loco Pilots/ Assistant Loco Pilots in cases of Passing Signals at Danger (SPAD) – NFIR’s suggestions for further relaxation – reg.

Ref: Railway Board’s Letter No.2017/Safety (A&R)/18/11 dated 08.01.2018

While appreciating and thanking the Railway Board for their deep analysis and thorough study on the subject of “Guidelines for minimum punishment to be imposed for LPs/ALPs, in cases of SPAD”, which has resulted in issuance of revised instructions vide Board’s letter no. cited above (i.e. dated 8.1.2018), duly taking into account the inputs given by NFIR vide its letter No. II/34/Part.17 dated 04.01.2018 (also taking cognizance of NFIRs Charter of Demands – SPAD Definition to be reviewed to prevent harassment and victimization of Running and Safety categories’ staff -Item No. 30, on which Strike Notice was served), the Federation places its views on the revised instructions as below for appropriate review:-

NFIR’s views:

I. Para 1.1, condition 1.1.1

i) For Loco Pilots:- Reduction may be done to the next lower stage of pay level instead of reducing as LP/ Shunter for a period of one year and he may be put to work as Co-Pilot. wherever possible.

ii) For Assistant Loco Pilots, the prescribed punishment may further be relaxed.

iii) NFIR suggests that SPAD cases involving IBSS (Intermediate Block Stop Signal), may be brought under the provision of this condition (1.1.1), since as per General Rules of 1976, Rule no.3.11, Intermediate Block Stop signal is the Home signal provided at an Intermediate Block post. In the present order, it is classified under condition 1.2.

II. Para 1.1, condition 1.1.2 & Para 1.2:

In this condition, the stipulation of capital punishment of “Removal or Compulsory retirement from service”, where entirely due to neglect of loco pilot, may be relaxed for imposing any other punishment.

III. Para 1.3, condition 1.3.1 & 1.3.2

i) For Loco Pilots:- Reduction may be done to the next lower pay, instead of reducing as LP/ Shunter for a period of one year.

ii) For Assistant Loco Pilots, the prescribed punishment may further be relaxed

IV. Para 1.5

In this condition, the penalty of capital punishment of Removal or Compulsory retirement from service, whei-e entirely due to neglect of loco pilot, may be further relaxed and any other punishment may be prescribed.

V. Para 2.0

Punishment for Assistant Loco Pilot, shall not be at par with Loco Pilot, unless otherwise serious dereliction of duty is proved.

VI. Para 6.0

Separate representation has already been sent on Para 6.0 vide NFIR letter No. II /34 /Pt. dated 06.03.2018, which may be considered.

VII. Para 9.0

A review of previous two years cases be allowed to be undertaken and accordingly Board’s instructions dated 08/01/2018 be modified.

Yours faithfully,
S/d,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah),
General Secretary

Source : NFIR

The post Guiding norms for imposition of punishment on Loco Pilots/ Assistant Loco Pilots in cases of Passing Signals at Danger (SPAD) – NFIR’s suggestions for further relaxation appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110055

Meeting with CRB

(29.05.2017)

(a) Agreed decisions not implemented:

(i) Replacement of 6th CPC GP Rs. 4600 (PB-2) with GP 4800 (PB-2) for Sr. Section Engineers and other Inspectorial/Supervisory Officials in the Railways.

(ii) Replacement of 6th CPC GP 4200/- PB-2 (with GP 4600/- PB-2) in respect of Loco Pilots (Mail/Exp).

(iii) Stepping up of pay of Loco Inspectors inducted to prior 01/01/2006 on remaining 6 1/2 Zones in Indian Railways.

(iv) Upgradation of Apex Group ‘C’ posts to Group ‘B’ (Gaz).

(b) Contentious issues:

(i) Induction of Course Completed Act Apprentices in the railways in Safety category vacancies in GP 1800/-.

(ii) Absorption of staff working in Quasi Administrative units/offices in Railways – Restoration of policy decisions of 1973 & 1977 (which were arbitrarily cancelled in the year 1997).

(iii) Inter Railway request transfer cases of former Defence Forces Personnel re-employed in Railways and also applications of widows/widowers – Exemption from 5 years minimum service condition – GS/NFIR’s letter No. II/14/Part VII dated 23/02/2017 to Hon’ble MR.

(c) Vacancies in Railways:

Staff over-burdened due to heavy vacancy position, particularly in safety and public image categories system suffering badly.

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (N.F.I.R.)
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110055

No. II/95/Pt.X

Dated 30/05/2017

President & General Secretary/NFIR met CRB on 29/05/2017 and discussed the above issues & urged upon him to intervene for satisfactory redressal.

C/-II/14/Pt.VIII, II/94/Pt.III/1B, IV/RSAC/Pt.VIII.
C/-10/2012 (DC), 16/2009 (DC).
C/- 36/1998 (PNM)

Media Centre/NFIR
sd/-
(Dr M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source : NFIR

The post Replacement of 6th CPC GP i.r.o. Sr. SE & Loco Pilots, Stepping up of Pay i.r.o. Loco Inspectors, Upgradation of Post: Discussed in Meeting with Chairman,Railway Board on 29.05.2017 appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.