The last referendum for trade union recognition in the Indian Railways was held in April 2013. According to the Final Modalities for Holding of Secret Ballot Elections, 2013, recognition of trade unions on a Zonal Railway is normally valid for six years from the date of grant of recognition. The process of holding the next referendum was initiated in 2019 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 has been enacted by Parliament and the same has been notified in Gazette of India on 29th September, 2020 by the nodal Ministry, i.e. the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Secret Ballot Elections will be conducted after the finalisation and notification of rules on recognition of Trade Unions by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Referendum for Trade Union Recognition in Railways
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1096
ANSWERED ON 10.02.2023
REFERENDUM FOR TRADE UNION RECOGNITION IN RAILWAYS
1096 SHRI A. A. RAHIM:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the time when the last referendum for trade union recognition was done in the Railways;
(b) the normal prescribed time period in which such a referendum should take place;
(c) reasons for the undue delay in conducting the referendum;
(d) whether the Railways plan to conduct the referendum; and
(e) if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons for the same?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a): Secret Ballot Election for recognition of Trade Unions on Zonal Railways was last held in April, 2013.
(b): As per the Final Modalities for Holding of Secret Ballot Elections, 2013, recognition of Trade Unions on a Zonal Railway shall normally be valid for six years from the date of grant of recognition by the General Manager of the Zonal Railway. However, as per these Modalities, the existing recognised Trade Unions continue to remain recognized till a fresh election process is completed.
(c) to (e): The process of holding next Secret Ballot Elections for recognition of Trade Unions on Zonal Railways was initiated in 2019. The Final Modalities were notified on 16.08.2019 and instructions for finalization of Voters’ List were issued on 20.02.2020 and 23.10.2020. However, due to Covid -19 Pandemic, further action on the election process could not be taken. In the meantime, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 has been enacted by Parliament and the same has been notified in Gazette of India on 29th September, 2020 by the nodal Ministry, i.e. the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Further, Secret Ballot Elections will be conducted after the finalisation and notification of rules on recognition of Trade Unions by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Source: Rajyasabha