MUMBAI, July 24: Faced with the spectre of Tuesday's impending strike which could cripple the city, the Western Railway management today appealed to the 800-odd motormen to withdraw their agitation. ``Motormen already form the top one per cent of the most-highly-paid railway staff, they are asking for 50 per cent more pay which will see them drawing more than even the officers controlling them,'' WR's GM Vasudev Gupta told newspersons.Compared to other categories of running staff, motormen already enjoy better working conditions and emoluments, averaging Rs 17,000 a month. Addressing a press conference at WR headquarters this afternoon, Gupta said the motormen were not the only section of employees dissatisfied with the recommendations of the Fifth Central Pay Commission. He hinted that the railways could face strikes in other departments ranging from station masters to signalling staff if they conceded to motormen's demands.
Amongst other demands, the motormen want revision of their wages and paritywith various other categories of central government servants. A WR appeal says these demands are quite unreasonable, for the motormen are comfortably placed as far as wages and working conditions are concerned. They have a fixed schedule of work, which doesn't take them away from their homes like drivers and guards of non-suburban trains.
However, Railway officials admit that the strike by 530 Central Railway and 340 WR motormen could easily cripple the city. ``They are the lifeline of Mumbai,'' Gupta said, hoping the strike would last only for a day or two. But, arrangements are being made to tide over the strike. The WR has brought in drivers from outside the city to run locals. Two electric engines, one at each end, will be used to run fast trains.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
