PRESENTED BY:

GROUP NO:6
All India Railway Federation(AIRF)
AIRF was formed in 1924.
Parent Organisation – AITUC
The AIRF is a free, democratic and independent
organisation.
Oldest railway union in the country.
 Out of 1.5 million railway workers, 1.1 million are
members of the AIRF.
It has affiliated unions on all the 16 Zonal Railways and
Production Units and the MTP Railway.
Formation of AIRF
 During the last part of the 19th Century, railway men were inspired
by the ongoing freedom struggle. And as railway being a strategic
industry the it was important for railway men to involve in the
issue.

 There were several strikes in the railway workshops during that

period . After the formation of All India Trade Union Congress, the
trade union leaders who were spearheading the freedom struggle
and were active in the railway trade union movement, in 1924,
formed the All India Railway men's Federation(AIRF), consisting of
the railway men's unions working on the different railways.
It has been one of the powerful trade unions in India under
the eminent leadership of V.V. Giri, Jaya Prakash Narayan,
N.M. Joshi, Peter Alvares and George Fernandes. Till 1948
AIRF had the privilege of the exclusive recognition of the
government
In 1949, the government also recognized a new
organisation, namely, the Indian' National
Railway Workers' Federation (INRWF).

In 1953, a merger of the AIRF and INRWF took

place and a new Federation in the name of
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen(NFIR)
came into existence. However, despite the unity
efforts in 1957, the AIRF was revived.
In 1974, a third Federation , the Indian Railway
Workers Federation was formed with the support of
AITUC.
There are also category-wise All India Associations, for
Station Masters, Loco men Running Staff, Guards,
Signals and Telecommunication Staff, Commercial
Clerks, Ministerial Staff. The recognition of category-
wise unions also became strong.
Strikes ..
Pre independence period- for equal pay
 1974- Reasons:
Harsh working conditions
Low wages
Negative responses from management
Results:
By the end of may 1974 this strike was suppressed without any
immediate gains but had some long term gains like..
Bonus
Promotions for employees.
In 1997 strike was averted against government
demanding to pay Productivity Linked Bonus(PLB) to
railway men.

The strike was followed by negotiations between the

JCM leaders and the Group of Ministers, as the result
of which an agreement was signed on 11.9.1997 which
granted 20% additional wage hike .
Problems faced by AIRF
Railways’ regular activities are being outsourced to
corporations or contractors and workers’ unity is being
disrupted by granting recognition to non-
representative unions.
Benchmarking is being pursued without creating the
requisite working conditions and providing the
required tools, clamps and spare parts on a uniform
basis all over the Indian Railways,
Downsizing of the working strength is being carried
out indiscriminately
A contributory pension scheme is being introduced,
doing away with the beneficial old scheme and labour
laws are being amended to the detriment of workers to
placate foreign investors at the behest of IMF and
WTO.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES OF AIRF
AIRF and its affiliates have been doing social service
through several non-bargaining activities like:
a) health check and blood and eye donation camps,
b) sports activities and prize distribution for the
children of railway employees.

 Taking regular coaching classes for children of

railway employees and also running computer classes
and educational institutions including an
Engineering College.
The AIRF is concerned about safety on Indian
Railways and has been organizing seminars and
meetings, educating the cadre on safety in railway
working.

Organizes drug and alcohol de-addiction, AIDS

awareness and family planning camps and providing
relief to the victims of natural calamities etc.
LIST OF AIRF’S AFFILIATED UNIONS

1. Western Railway Employees’ Union, Mumbai   

2. N.F. Railway Mazdoor Union, Guwahati 
3. Eastern Railway men's Union, Kolkata 
4. National Railway Mazdoor Union, Mumbai
5. Southern Railway Mazdoor Union, Chennai
6. S.C. Railway Mazdoor Union, Secunderabad  
7. E.C. Railway Karamchari Union, Hajipur at Patna
8. North Western Railway Employees’ Union, Jaipur 
etc.. 
conclusion
Since the Indian Railways are the Nation’s greatest
asset and second line of the defense of the country, the
AIRF and its affiliated unions are determined to
continue its constructive activities and at the same
time take all possible steps against Railways’ being
privatized as also their unity being tempered with.
THANK YOU….