Train controllers to go on mass leave on May 1

The association is spearheading this agitation on International Labour Day to press for the redressal of its long pending grievances like irregular pay, filling up of vacancies and payment of stress allowance, a spokesperson said.

"We work 365 days in a year to ensure trains run on time and freight trains get optimum paths. With a meagre staff strength of about 2,600 workers all over India, we run more than 16,000 trains a day," said Anil Bhadra, Secretary General of AITCA.

Drivers, guards, station masters and all train operation staff work under the control cadre and run trains as per the guidance and instruction of the controller. The move is likely to paralyse the functioning of the Indian Railways nationwide for 24 hours, Bhadra said.
"The work load and stress on the controller has increased manifold and as a result of this more than 75 percent of the cadre suffer from serious ailments like hypertension and diabetes. Hence, the association demands adequate compensation by way of stress allowance at 30 percent of basic pay," Bhadra said.