IREF Protests for the Restoration of OPS
A massive protest was organized on March 30 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, by the Indian Railway Employees Federation (IREF), affiliated to AICCTU, and the Front Against NPS in Railways (FANPSR), demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and against the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). A gathering of hundreds of protesting railway employees was addressed by Sudama Prasad, Member of Parliament and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, and Rajiv Dimri, the all India General Secretary of AICCTU.
Amrik Singh, all India President of the FANPSR, Executive President of IREF, and Joint Secretary of the National Movement for Old Pension Scheme (NMOPS), stated that rail workers would not opt for UPS, which was alleged to be implemented soon. He emphasized that they were determined to secure only the Old Pension Scheme. He also announced that around six million employees across Indian Railways and the country would observe Black Day on April 1 in protest against NPS and UPS.
The Chief Guest Sudama Prasad criticized the policies of the Prime Minister that destroyed employment opportunities for the youth and aimed to seize farmers' lands. He accused the government of formulating policies solely for the benefit of corporate giants like Adani and Ambani, while attempting to enslave future generations. He commended railway employees for standing united against NPS and UPS, which is a step toward privatization. He warned the government’s efforts to dismantle the Constitution that guarantees rights to workers and the poor, and vowed to protect it. He reaffirmed his commitment to raise the voice of railway employees, students, farmers, laborers, and the common people in the floors of the Parliament.
Keynote speaker Rajiv Dimri stated that privatization has intensified in the railways. He called for country wide protests against NPS, UPS, privatization, corporatization, outsourcing, and Labor Codes. He also urged the railway employees to support the all India strike on 20 May jointly called by the ten major central trade unions and to amplify the people's voice.
IREF General Secretary Sarvjeet Singh described the protest as a symbolic one against the NPS and UPS, whereas a grand gathering would be held in Delhi on May 1 for the restoration of OPS. He urged all employees to begin preparations for it. He thanked all organizations, leaders and especially the women employees for joining the protest.
Other speakers also expressed their commitment to continue their struggle until OPS was restored. Notable speakers included Ratan Chand, Tarsem Kumar, Narsingh Kumar, Mrityunjay Kumar, Pushpendra Tripathi, Sushil Kumar Singh, Harkesh Singh, Bharat Raj, Darshan Lal, Krishna Kumar, S.P. Sahu, Umed Singh Chauhan, and Jumerdin.
Hundreds of employees from various railway zones, production units, and workshops joined the protest and made it a success.