Railway workers call for major reforms

RAWALPINDI:

Railway workers' representatives on Saturday demanded the removal of the incumbent railway minister, independent inquiries into railway accidents, an end to restrictions on workers' organisations and an immediate referendum to elect a representative union, while calling for the rights of railway employees to be restored.

Central information secretary of the Railway Workers' Union Mubarak Hussain, Pakistan Mazdoor Mahaz General Secretary Shaukat Ali Chaudhry, Pakistan Inqilabi Party Islamabad chief organiser Malik Jawad, general secretary Ali Nasir and Dr Saeedi Abbasi said the Railway Mazdoor Mahaz, Pakistan Inqilabi Party and Railway Workers' Union said that they were united in their struggle for the rights of open-line railway workers.

They said the organisations would join the United Workers Federation and take practical measures to improve the welfare of railway workers and restore rights that had been taken away from employees.

The labour representatives demanded impartial committees to investigate the actual causes of railway accidents and said details of accidents, revenue generated and losses incurred during the incumbent minister's tenure should be made public.

They also criticised the alleged neglect of railway land worth millions and billions of rupees.