November 25, 2006	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 3, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: Drivers of locomotives have resorted to “go-slow” to press for their demands, resulting into massive delays, at times by ten hours, in arrival of trains at Rawalpindi Railway Station.

The train drivers going by the book had refused to work overtime since Monday (Nov 20). This looks to be a nationwide phenomenon.

Besides increase in salaries and improvement of working conditions, they are demanding allocation of BPS-16. Drivers are presently employed in BPS-12.

According to the job description of the drivers, they are required to work for 12 hours a day, but they had been working more than their duty hours under an understanding with the administration that it would overcome the shortage of drivers. There is a shortage of some 1000 locomotive drivers in railways.

However, since Monday the drivers are no more working more than 12 hours. The administration is seeing it as a no-cooperation.

Trade union in railways has been banned since 2002. Although some of the high-ups in the railways look at it as a problem of the freight trains, passenger trains arrival timings suggest otherwise. Furthermore, they say the problem was being witnessed more in Karachi and Quetta Divisions.

On Friday, seven trains reaching Rawalpindi were late. The trains that arrived late were Tezgam 7-Up (6 hours), Awami Express 13-Up (3.15 hours), Hazara Express 11-Up (5 hours), Jaffar Express 39 Up (3 hours), Burak Express 43 Up (10 hours), Lahore Express 107 Up (almost 1 hour) and Railcar 101 Up (almost 1 hour).

Railways minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed gave a warning to the agitating personnel.

Speaking to mediapersons at ministry, he said those employees found guilty of the “go-slow” would be terminated from service and fresh recruitment would be made against the positions falling vacant.

He asked the employees that being part of essential service they should not involve in protest.

The minister, however, said a summary had been sent to the prime minister for increase in wages of Station Master, Assistant Station Master, Shunter Driver and Guard.

Mr Ahmed also held out similar assurances to employees in other categories saying their cases would also be considered for increase in wages.