Trade unions against SC/ST interests

BANGALORE: The All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association, Bangalore Division of South Western Railway, has a new Division Executive Committee office.   The office is located in M G Railway Colony. Speaking on the occasion, B L Bairwa, national president of the Association, said the new office was a stepping stone for SC/ST employees to look at pending issues. Calling trade unions ‘anti-SC/ST’, he said, “I want to highlight some of the issues that the Association members are facing. Firstly, we have to be treated on par with other trade unions. While they have many platforms to engage, we are given only one informal meeting. The Association has demanded for a quarterly meeting,” he said  adding that a memorandum was submitted to the Ministry of Railways in this regard.He further urged SC/ST employees to withdraw support to trade unions, as they were ‘anti-reservation’. “Unions use our money to work against us. They have opposed the reservation bill. I urge all workers to stop supporting these unions.” Bairwa stressed on the constitutional guarantee of protection for the backward classes, stating that chargesheeting and transfers of members had to stop. “Our office-bearers are harassed. Every time they lodge a complaint, they are transferred. This has to stop. Also, special casual leave and passes have to be given to us,” he said. Bairwa added that Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi had expressed interest to work on these issues. M Shivanna, member of National Commission for Scheduled Castes, speaking on the occasion said, “Since I belong here, I wanted to hold a review meeting in my city. I will look at these issues in the meeting. I assure you that the Commission has the power to suspend the officers who are guilty of harassing members of the SC/ST association,” he said. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Sudhanshu Mani, who granted space for the new office, said it was important for any association to have an office. “The Association’s attitude has always been positive. I welcome them to bring any problems to my notice. I assure them my full support and would help if need arrives,” Mani said.