RCF union urges Railway Board to act on safety, vacancies and worker rights

The Rail Coach Factory Employees Union (RCFEU) has urged the Railway Board to take swift action on what it describes as “serious and pressing issues” affecting staff at the RCF in Kapurthala.

During a meeting with Railway Board Member (Production Unit) Sitaram Sinku during his visit to the factory on Wednesday, the union’s leadership presented a series of demands aimed at safeguarding workers’ safety, dignity and rights while ensuring that production targets remain realistic.

RCFEU General Secretary Sarvjeet Singh said the delegation emphasised the need for immediate recruitment to more than 1,700 vacant posts, expansion of the sanctioned workshop strength in light of “unrealistic” production goals and the introduction of a five-day working week for administrative offices to save resources and boost efficiency.

The union also called for an end to the contract labour system, citing risks to both employee safety and coach quality and sought the transfer of staff recruited through the Railway Recruitment Cell to their original positions as Assistant Workshop employees.

Singh said the delegation pressed for high-level investigations into recent crane accidents and the discovery of a suspicious body on the premises, as well as RCFEU’s inclusion in the Permanent Negotiation Machinery on par with zonal railways.

Other concerns raised included the shortage and poor condition of forklifts, with a demand for urgent procurement; employment for thousands of skilled youths trained under the Act Apprenticeship instead of hiring contract workers and procurement of PPE, medicines and other items through SPC rather than GeM to ensure quality.

The union also demanded the repeal of the four Labour Codes replacing 44 previous labour laws, calculation of the PLB bonus based on the Seventh Pay Commission’s minimum wage of Rs 18,000, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and implementation of the Eighth Pay Commission’s recommendations from January 1, 2026.

According to Singh, Sinku listened carefully to all points raised and assured that he would take up the matters with the relevant Railway Board officials to secure early and positive action. The union expressed confidence that the meeting marked a decisive step towards resolving long-standing grievances of RCF employees.