MUMBAI: The Central Railway administration and the railway union have found themselves at odds over a new duty roster, but a temporary truce has been called following objections raised by the unions.
The Central Railway had proposed a a new Model duty roster that reduces the total duty hours by 3 hours and 5 minutes per fortnight. However, it also increases the average time spent by train crews behind the controls from the current 2 hours and 47 minutes to 3 hours and 7 minutes.
Additionally, the overall fortnightly duty hours were reduced from 89 hours and 45 minutes to 84 hours and 5 minutes.
The unions strongly opposed this increase in driving hours.
Vivek Sisodia, a representative of the Central Railway Mazdoor Union, said, “Following our protest, the administration has assured us that it will not implement the proposed roster. The new schedule would place undue pressure on the train crews, which is why we are against it.”
Sisodia also noted that such schedules are usually prepared in consultation with the duty committee, which includes union representatives. “The administration has now agreed to draft the roster after further discussions with the committee,” he added.
Sources said that that model duty hours would have not only provided ample rest time to the train crew but also help us run trains more efficiently after introduction of new timetable. Some train crew are against the model detail because of the fear of losing out on earnings from over time.