NEW DELHI. Various railway unions have opposed the Railway Board’s move to relax recognition norms for federations on December 10, 2024, just two days before the counting of votes of unions’ election.
The Secret Ballot Elections (SBE) for verification and recognition of trade unions and their federations on Indian Railways were held on December 4, 5 and 6 and the votes were counted on December 12.
However, the Board issued a circular on December 10, 2024 and said that the constituent trade unions of Railways Federations should have collectively got at least 15 percent of the valid votes polled on All India Railways basis.
It also said that the constituent Trade Unions of Railways Federation should have got recognition in at least 6 of the 17 zonal railways.
Earlier, as per the “Final Modalities for Holding of Secret Ballot Elections III for Recognition of Trade Unions on Indian Railways” dated September 9, 2024, released by the competent authority of the Railway Board, the above-mentioned-conditions were more stringent.
“If no TU (Trade Union) secures at least 20% of total TVVP (Total Valid Votes Polled), none of the TUs shall be considered for recognition,” the Final Modalities said.
Many trade unions have opposed the Board’s move to relax norms from 20 percent to 15 percent as according to them, this has been done to favour some such unions who the Board wants to recognise to get support on various contention issues of front line workers and employees.
Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board didn’t respond to the allegations.
In this regard, Chand Mohammad, working president of All India Track Maintainers Union (AIRTU), said, “We strongly oppose this move. Why was this relaxation given only when the elections were over and the results were out. We believe that the board wanted to recognize such unions from whom it could take support on many issues of workers whenever it wanted.”
According to Indian Railway S&T Maintainers’ Union (IRSTMU) General Secretary Alok Chandra Prakash, in the last-held election in 2013, the constituent Trade Unions of Railways Federation were supposed to get recognition in 9 out of 17 zones but this time it has been reduced to 6 to relax it further.
“I believe once the final modalities are out, the Board should not have interfered with it. Amending the recognition norms just two days before counting, that too, without any justification smells a rat,” Prakash said.
