Daily Times

LAHORE: Hundreds of workers of the Railways Workshop held a protest rally in front of the Railways Headquarters on Wednesday, seeking better service structure, up-gradation of all workers ranging from grade 1-16 and abolition of taxes imposed on low-cadre employees.

The protest was organised by Railway Workers Union (CBA-Workshop) and the Diploma-Holders’ Association. The protest also was attended by members of the People’s Solidarity Forum and the Progressive Students Collective. The gathering was addressed by several union leaders, including Sakhi Khan, Ashiq Jehangiri, Mustehsen Javaid, Khursheed Awan, Diploma Holder Federation’s chief Ghulam Muhammad, Liaquat Nangania and Railways Open-Line leader Anwar Gujjar.

They announced a plan to intensify pressure on the railways administration. It was decided that protests would be held on a daily basis in each workshop establishment.

Railway Workers leader Sakhi Khan in a highly-charged speech spoke about the working conditions being faced by railway workers and the “empty promises” made by the railways administration and Railways Minister Saad Rafique. He said that there had been much improvement, but it had occurred at the cost of workers’ welfare. He said workers, who were hired during early 80s were still working at the same pay scale when they were hired. He said that workers would continue to fight for their basic rights and service structure for all classes.

A pamphlet distributed by the Railway Workers Union (CBA-workshop) and People’s Solidarity forum called for workers to show unity by putting aside longstanding differences and working towards building greater consciousness amongst workers regarding their rights. The pamphlet emphasised that the growing movement within the railways had occurred after decades of neglect and anti-worker policies by the railway administration and successive political governments.

Published in Daily Times, March 8^th 2018.