New Delhi, August 30(HS):

Railway employees across India have announced plans for a nationwide protest on September 19, expressing dissatisfaction over the central government’s delay in issuing the notification for the Eighth Pay Commission, six months after its announcement. The All India Railway Men’s Federation (AIRF) conveyed this information following a meeting held in New Delhi on August 28 addressing the issue.

According to AIRF, despite the government’s January announcement to constitute the Eighth Pay Commission to revise employee salaries, the crucial gazette notification has yet to be released. The September 19 protest aims not only to press for the notification’s immediate issuance but also to pay tribute to those railway employees who lost their lives during the historic nationwide strike on the same date in 1968.

AIRF General Secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra emphasized that millions of railway workers will participate in the peaceful protest to draw government attention to their demands. He urged all employees to maintain decorum and conduct the demonstrations responsibly. Mishra also appealed directly to the government to expedite the notification process to alleviate employee unrest and restore industrial harmony.

The 1968 strike, led by the AIRF, was a massive one-day protest involving railway, defense, postal, and telegraph workers nationwide. It marked a critical moment in India’s labor history, centered on demands for a minimum essential wage and inflation allowance in response to rising living costs.

This upcoming protest underscores the persistent challenges faced by public sector employees in securing timely wage revisions and highlights the enduring significance of labor solidarity in India’s workforce.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar