Locomotive and co-pilots are on a 48-hour hunger strike in Hubballi on Tuesday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Dozens of pilots and assistant locomotive pilots began a 48-hour hunger strike in Hubballi on Tuesday in response to a call for a nationwide strike from December 2 to 4.
The All India Locomotive Employees Association called for a 48-hour hunger strike to protest the reported continued apathy and neglect of the administration towards what they described as the just and legitimate grievances of the locomotive employees.
The main grouse of the Locomotive Staff is that despite taking all measures to ensure the safety of millions of railway passengers every day, their legitimate demands remain unheeded, even after repeated representations, delegations and discussions seeking redressal of their genuine and long standing grievances.
In the hunger strike, which began outside the office of the Divisional Railway Manager of Hubballi Division, a number of leaders raised the issue of locomotive operation.
All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) Divisional Secretary T. Sabu, AILRSA Central Vice President C. Sunish, SWRMU Divisional Secretary Kumaravelu and office bearers including Rajendra Singh, Manavendra Ojha, Mahesh Pattar, Yamuna Gaunger, Praveen Kumar and others who addressed the protesting authorities, Rajnish Kumar and others condemned the protesting authorities. government to their grievances.
The speakers highlighted the hardships faced by the locomotive staff and said they are deprived of 16-hour daily rest and 30-hour weekly rest. In violation of the rules, they are forced to work for 12 hours continuously and forced to work four continuous night shifts, they said.
They further stated that their workload was further increased by the shifting duties of train examiners, engineering staff, traffic staff (such as SLP checking, handbrake when stalling by co-pilots etc.) and also the burden caused by equipment breakdowns.
The current working atmosphere has become deplorable as a result of the five-year hiring ban and the resulting ever-high number of vacancies. Each locomotive pilot is forced to work 20% extra due to vacancies and as a result he is under immense pressure to meet personal/family needs which they say is more dangerous for the safety of Indian Railways.
They urged the authorities to consider their legitimate demands and take steps to fulfill them as soon as possible.
Published – 02 Dec 2025 20:04 IST
