Archive · 17 Sep 2026
AIRF Demands Railway Vacancies, Safety Changes and Worker Benefits
The railway workers’ union AIRF met with senior Railway Board officials.
It said about three lakh railway jobs are empty and should be filled quickly.
The union also wants more jobs as new stations and railway facilities are built.
It asked for higher bonuses without the current ₹7,000 limit.
For safety, it wants two workers to patrol railway areas at night instead of one.
It also wants patrol routes shortened from 20 kilometres to 12 kilometres.
Other requests included better railway housing repairs, medical care and benefits for employees and pensioners.
The meeting also covered pay, promotions, uniforms, women workers and railway clubs.
The All India Railwaymen’s Federation demanded immediate filling of around three lakh vacant railway posts.
The union called for additional posts as railway assets and new stations expand, while opposing post surrender, outsourcing and privatisation.
AIRF sought removal of the ₹7,000 ceiling on the 78-day Productivity Linked Bonus and calculation based on basic pay.
For railway safety, it requested two-person night patrols, shorter patrol beats and risk allowances for safety-related employees.
The union also raised demands involving railway housing, medical care, the 8th Pay Commission, career progression and employee welfare.
- Who
- The All India Railwaymen’s Federation, including its representatives, and Railway Board chairman and CEO Satish Kumar and other board members.
- What
- AIRF presented demands concerning railway vacancies, staffing, bonuses, safety, employee benefits and workplace conditions.
- When
- The demands were raised during a meeting held on Wednesday.
- Where
- The Permanent Negotiating Machinery meeting took place at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi.
- Why
- The union said vacancies should be filled, additional posts should match railway expansion, and employees should receive improved safety measures, compensation and welfare facilities.
- Vacancies sought to be filled
- Around three lakh railway posts
- Bonus issue
- Removal of the ₹7,000 ceiling on the 78-day Productivity Linked Bonus and calculation on basic pay
- Night patrol proposal
- Deploy two employees instead of one
- Patrol beat proposal
- Reduce the beat from 20 kilometres to 12 kilometres
- Allowances sought
- Hard-duty and risk allowances for employees in safety-related departments
- Other issues raised
- Railway housing repairs, medical facilities, the 8th Pay Commission, cadre restructuring, MACPS, uniform allowances and employee welfare funds