An arbitrary decision led to repeated strikes by railway running staff

Train services across Bangladesh resumed countrywide today (29 January) after railway running staff withdrew their strike as the government agreed to fulfil the demands they had been pressing for three years.

Allowances for railway running staff, including locomasters and guards, had been withheld since 2022 under the pretext of cost control, following a decision by the railway's top management at that time.

According to the running staff, this decision was arbitrary, as they had been legally entitled to these allowances for many years.

The sudden suspension of payments led to protests including repeated strikes by the running staff. Lastly, the staff went on strike on Tuesday, as their demands remained unmet by Monday in line with their previous warning.

The railway authorities finally accepted their demands in the early hours of yesterday, prompting the protesting running staff to resume work that morning.

If running staff worked more than eight hours a day, they received additional pay, known as mileage in railway terms.

For every 100 kilometres travelled, they earned an extra day's basic salary. Over a month, this added up to two and a half to three months of work. 

Upon retirement, 75% of mileage was included in pension calculations. While the Finance Ministry has reinstated mileage benefits, it has not granted the 75% gratuity. 

Saidur Rahman, general secretary (metropolitan) of the Railway Running Staff and Sramik Karmachari Union, expressed his concerns, stating, "While we appreciate the restoration of mileage benefits, our other demands remain unfulfilled. The 75% gratuity benefit, which was previously provided, has not been reinstated." 

Md Mohsin Ali, organising secretary of the Railway Running Staff and Sramik Karmachari Union, alleged, "In 2022, the former director general of the Railway Department, along with the railways secretary and minister at the time, withheld running allowances under the guise of cost-saving and in an attempt to align themselves with the previous government."

According to railway sources, the running staff had long been receiving running allowance, pension, and gratuity benefits in accordance with the prevailing railway codes and regulations.

However, in November 2021, certain benefits for running staff were either revoked or reduced, which came into effect from January 2022. As a result, at the time of final retirement, a running staff member loses the benefit of having their running allowance included in the calculation of their pension and gratuity.

Subsequently, widespread resentment arose among the running staff of the railway. Although high-level meetings were held and decisions were made in favour of them at that time, they were never implemented.  

In August 2023, a meeting was held with all stakeholders, chaired by the cabinet secretary. It was decided in the meeting that the running allowance, pension, and gratuity previously received by the running staff were lawful as per the relevant laws and regulations and would remain in effect as before.

However, the finance ministry did not issue any official notification regarding the matter until December 2024. As a result, newly appointed running staff went on strike on 1 December.

Subsequently, after discussions with them, a decision was made to resolve the issue. Following the assurance, the running staff suspended their strike activities until 27 January.

Services met with delays after resumption

Although the train services resumed on Wednesday, they met with delays in the morning. Between 6:30am and 11am, 13 trains departed the Kamalapur Railway Station, with minor schedule disruptions, Station Manager Anwar Hossain told TBS.

However, the biggest delay occurred with the Sylhet-bound Parabat Express, which was delayed by over four and a half hours, he said.

The strike that was imposed on Tuesday caused immense suffering for train passengers. The situation further worsened as bus and other road transportation service providers hiked fares to exorbitant rates amid increased demands due to the lack of train services.

The strike also severely disrupted supply chains, particularly along key routes from Chattogram Port.

Md Mojibur Rahman, general secretary of Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers Union, announced the strike withdrawal in a press conference at around 2:45am yesterday after a meeting with Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan at the latter's residence.

"The adviser told us that our problem will be solved by tomorrow [Wednesday]. We do not want public suffering. We express our regret. We are calling off the strike from now on," Mojibur said.