EFFORTS TO FORM THE AIRF
The first Indian conference of Railwaymen was held in 1921 at Bombay presided over by Chandrika Prasad Tiwari. At that time two Federations of Railwaymen, one belonging to the North and the other to the South appeared to have existed and the amalgamation of these Federation was eventually brought about by the efforts of Rev.C.F.Andrews at Lahore paving the way for the foundation of AIRF. Shri Chandrika Prasad Tiwari a crusading campaign against the British policy of racial discrimination on the railways and he was strongly supported by the National Press and alert public openion. In April, 1924 the Railway Union representatives who met at Calcutta during the 4th session of AITUC, appointed a provisional Committee under the chairmanship of N.M.Joshi, leader of the workers, to explore the founding of AIRF early. It was unanimously decided to form a committee consisting of the following Trade Union Leaders to take necessary steps for formation of an All India Federarion of Railwaymen to protect and further their interests.
1. N.M. Joshi - Chairman
2. V.R.Calappa - Secretary
3. N.C.Sen - Vice President
4 M.N.Mukherjee - Asstt. Secretary
5. F.J. Cinwala -Bombay
6. Ram Chandra Rana - Bombay
7. Shamsuddin Hussain - N.W.Railway
8. Sadanand Waman - Bombay Port Trust
9. Biswanath Mukherjee - B.N.W.Railway
10. P.Krishnaswamy Mudaliar - GIP Railway
11. Jamshedji Zaribala - BB&CI Railway
12. S.K.Dey - EB Railway
13. P.Ramchandra Rao - B.N.Railway
The above office bearers were authorised to communicate with the different Railwaymen`s unions in India and to take necessary measures for establishing a federation of Railwaymen.
THE CHILD OF WORKING CLASS HISTORY - AIRF IS BORN!
The dedicated spade- work done by the provisional committee formed in 1924 impressed the Railwaymen`s unions all over, so much so that they agreed to the provisional constitution framed for the new organisation and finally founded AIRF at the conference of Railwaymen held at the servants of India Society Hall Girgaum, Bombay on the 16th February, 1925. The meeting was presided over by Com. N.M.Joshi. The distinguished gathering included Rev. C.F.Andrews, Mr. A.Rodricks, Coms. R.S.Ruikar, V.J.Sathe, G.Sethi, Mukund Lal Sarkar, besides 21 representatives from all over the country.
The following Resolutions were passed in the meeting.
1) That a Federation of all the Railwaymen`s Unions in India be formed.
2) That the draft constitution as read and amended be approved and adopted
for the All India Railwaymen`s Federation and the same
be printed and circulated to the Railwaymen`s Unions and the press.
3) That the General Council of the Federation was formed with :
President :
Chandrika Prasad Tiwari
Vice -Presidents :
N.M.Joshi, V.V.Giri, E.L.Tyar, Bishwanath Mukherjee.
General Secretary:
Mukund Lal Sarkar
Treasurer :
V.R.Kalappa.
and the representatives to be elected by the affiliated unions according to Section 7 of the Constitution.
The birth of the embryo was a monumental event in the history of the labour movement in our country. The first General council meeting of AIRF was held at Nagpur on 7th June, 1925 and it reviewed the situation in regard to the industrial as well as the organisational matters since the inaugural session.
Little would the leaders and workers realised that this embryo would blossom in to an all-India labour organisation which to day is the greatest and mightiest in the Country with a membership of over a million Railway workers.
STRUCTURE
At
present AIRF is a Federation body of 9 Zonal Railways Union, 5 Production Units,
M.T.P./ Kolkata and RDSO/Lucknow. All its Unions are unitary body. All the
affiliated unions are registered under Indian Trade Union Act, 1926. All the 9
Zonal Railway unions are recognised by the respective General Managers of Zonal
Railways as per provisions of Indian Railway Establishment Codes. But the unions
at the Production Units, MTP and RDSO have not yet been recognised. The AIRF is
also a registered body under Indian Trade Union Act. and it has been recognised
by the Railway Board, the Ministry of Railways.
AIRF
and its Zonal affiliates are having fully equipped union offices. Besides
divisional Offices and over 1000 branches of Zonal Unions are having well
equipped offices with good communication system. Officials at all levels are
democratically elected for a specified period not exceeding two years in any
case.
AIRF is a free, independent and democratic organisation. It is free from
interference of any particular political party and free from interference of the
Govt. It takes its independent decision for the common good of working class in
general and Railwaymen in particular. Its leaders are democratically choosen by
the workers. People of all political shades are in AIRF. It represents the two
character of India- unity in diversity.
AIRF
always stood against injustice and seek justice for workers and when justice is
denied it does not hesitate to fight relentlessly to secure justice. AIRF and
its affiliated union had launched many small and beg struggle. Notable of them
are five days country wide strike
of Railwaymen and all other Central Govt. employees from midnight of 11th
July 1960, one day Token
Strike of Railwaymen and other Central Govt. employees on 19th
September, 1968 and historic 20 long days Strike of Railwaymen from 8th
May, 1974, which had ultimately changed the Govt.
On the demand of Bonus and other demands Strike ballot was conducted in August
1979. Negotiated settlement was arrived at and productivity linked bonus
agreement was signed. So also in September 1993 Agreement. The report of Vth
Central Pay Commission was totally anti-people, anti labour and much against the
interest of Group `C` & `D` employee. Strike ballot was conducted in August
and Strike notice was issued on 4th September 1997. Group of six Ministers
including Dy. Chairman, Planning Commission negotiated. The worst report was
converted to very good report for both serving as well as retired Railwaymen and
other Central govt. employees.
AIRF
and its affiliated unions showed maturity in organizing struggle,
conducting strike and when Govt. responded negotiate and settle issues to the
advantage of Railwaymen and other Central Govt. employees.
Make them stronger.