Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Labor Employees Association on Tuesday threatened to go for an indefinite work abstention from August 28 demanding restoration of the 75 percent running allowance (overtime), which they used to receive with pension previously.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Labour Employees Association Md. Mujibur Rahman informed the matter in the media on Tuesday.
Running staff refers to train drivers, assistant drivers, guards and ticket inspectors (TTs). They were getting mileage benefits for 160 years. That is, if he works more than eight hours a day, he would get additional money as basic salary. Apart from this, 75% of the basic salary was added to the retirement pension after retirement. But the Ministry of Finance wrote to the Ministry of Railways on June 18 saying that there is no opportunity to give pension in this manner.
The program was announced by the Railway Running Staff and Labour Employees Association in an emergency meeting held at the association's central office at Pahartali of Chattogram.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Labour Employees Association Md. Mujibur Rahman said that railway running staff have been getting this benefit for 160 years. But the finance ministry refused to grant this facility by letter dated 3 November 2021. Later, in the face of the agitation, the Railway Minister, along with the high-ranking officials of the Railways, assured to fulfil their demands. On April 13 last year, the finance ministry withdrew the letter when train services were stopped across the country due to their strike. The Ministry of Finance has complicated the issue that has been going on for a long time. What we deserve and what we have been getting for a long time has been abruptly stopped. We have tried and communicated the matter to the higher authorities in various ways. But they could not give us any expected results. So now there is no more talk, from next 28th we will go straight to strike. There has been anger and dissatisfaction among the running staff of the railway.
Due to this decision of the Ministry of Finance, the running staff was prevented from performing eight hours of additional duty from last July 23. This caused a standstill in the movement of cargo and local trains. After the assurance of the authorities, the association relaxed it.
President of Railway Running Staff and Sramik Employees Association Rafiq Chowdhury, President of Guard Council Md. Mizanur Rahman and General Secretary Afzal Hossain, Organizing Secretary of Railway Sramik League Sajjad Hossain spoke on the occasion.
