Railway Union Threatens 2-Hour Strike Across India On Oct 22 Over Employees' Bonus; Know Entire Issue

Railway Strike: The unions are reportedly demanding the due bonus of 2019-2020. "It is unfair to deny last year’s bonus, citing this year’s pandemic," the union said.

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At the time when railway services are being expanded for the ongoing festive season, All India Railways Federation has threatened to go on a 2-hour strike on Thursday, October 22 if bonus is not declared by Wednesday. According to the reports, the unions on October 20 observed All India Bonus Demand Day where the railway staff from all across the country were explained the callousness of the authorities in disbursing the bonuses. But the union's protest is not for the bonus of this year. The unions are reportedly demanding the due bonus of 2019-2020. "It is unfair to deny last year’s bonus, citing this year’s pandemic," the union said, as quoted by Hindustan Times. Reacting to this, the railway board issued a notice to all divisions warning penal action against employees if any employee stops work on Thursday. However, as per the latest development, there is a strong possibility that the strike will be called off as the central government on Wednesday agreed to pay bonuses to over 30 lakh employees before Vijayadashami. Every year, the bonus is given before Dussehra but owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, the government did not announce bonus until Wednesday. In a press briefing held in New Delhi on Wednesday October 21, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said that the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB)for the year 2019-2020 to 16.97 lakh non-gazetted employees. More than 30 lakh non-gazetted employees of commercial establishments like Railways, Posts, Defence, EPFO,ESIC will be benefited by the bonus announcement and total financial implication will be Rs 3,737 crores. It may be noted that the bonus will be given immediately in single installment to a total of 30.67 lakh non-gazetted employees through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).