Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (KM/NR)

Udupi, Sep 6:  Konkan railway will go to poll on September 6, to elect a official labour union with two unions already in the fray, P R Menon-chief secretary of National Railway Majdoor Union informed to media persons here on Tuesday, September 5.

“Our union completed its tenure on March 31 2007. And in spite of having 90% support of the labourers, the union has decided to go to polls afresh willingly,” declared Menon.

Further he informed that their union having a membership of 1, 14,000, has been recognized by AIRF and Central Railway. In the previous poll the union bagged the lion share of nearly 70% of the total votes and this time too the union is confident of bagging more than 75% of the cast votes, he affirmed.

According to Menon a total of 3980 employees were eligible to cast their votes, and he was confident of them making it to the elections, as he felt that his union had checked rampant corruption within a short span of two years. It is due to the efforts made by the union that 700 trackmen had been recruited; no loss of lives reported in Konkan rail way, he proudly declared and added forcefully “The lives of passengers has been the top priority of the union”.

Moreover the Union, he remarked had never been in favour of privatization of Konkan railway, rather it has done its best to ensure that the standard of living of its employees is bettered. “Our union has appealed to extend the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission to the employees of Konkan railway too,” he added.

Krishna Kumar Sheth, vice president of the union, Jo D’Souza, assistant general manager, Biju Mohan, secretary of the executive committee were present at the press meet.