The South Central Railway Employees Sangh (SCRES), affiliated with the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), has called for a special pay package in light of 100% electrification and increased freight loading. The union has proposed a fitment factor of 3.83%, a 10% housing weightage, and a return to the Old Pension Scheme on par with defence personnel under the forthcoming Eighth Central Pay Commission.

A memorandum outlining these demands was submitted by the SCRES Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) to Pay Commission members during their recent visit to the city. The union said it presented ground realities faced by railway staff to justify its proposals, according to convenor V. Sripati Sarma.

Addressing a press conference at the union office on Wednesday, Mr. Sarma, along with Joint General Secretary M. Bharani Bhanu Prasad, emphasised that railway workers should be treated as a national asset, deserving higher compensation, robust technical training and enhanced professional status.

The JCM proposed that a minimum of 3,490 kcal be considered for calculating minimum wages, noting that 88% of the workforce is engaged in heavy-duty work. It also recommended a 35% skill component and a consumer unit of up to five, including dependent parents. The union further sought substantial revisions in allowances and a streamlined pay fixation system aligned with career progression. JCM’s Shaik Rawoof, Satyavaani and Prabhakar Andrew were also present.

Meanwhile, SCR Mazdoor Union General Secretary Ch. Sankara Rao, in a separate statement, called for higher pay scales in sensitive posts due to increasing digitisation during an interaction with the CPC members. He also urged recognition of trackmen as highly skilled workers with pay levels up to ‘6’, and demanded full-salary child care leave for women employees for up to two years.