Almost 50 years after the 20-day railway workers’ strike in 1974 that shook the then Indira Gandhi government, preparations are underway for another indefinite strike in the sector on the issue of the old pension scheme (OPS). Trade unions will hold a secret ballot on November 20 and 21 among about 12 lakh Indian Railways employees and 3.9 lakh civilian workers at various defence establishments, including ordnance factories, seeking their approval for an indefinite strike to replace the National Pension Scheme (NPS) with the OPS.
The movement for reinstating the OPS has the support of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated trade union, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS). The BMS is holding a workers’ rally here on November 22 with the same demand. BMS general secretary Ravindra Himte told The Hindu that his organisation would not oppose its members from taking part in the secret ballot. “We are demanding restoration of OPS. We will not give any call to participate in the secret ballot, but we will not oppose it,” Mr. Himte said, adding that the BMS would strengthen its protests for OPS parallelly.
