Non-executive staff and DMRC authorities meet to discuss upgrade in pay scales

The Delhi Metro is facing a first-ever shutdown threat even as a meeting between metro’s non-executive staff -- who have threatened to bring services to a halt from Monday if their demands, including a pay hike, are not met -- and DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh continued till late Saturday evening.

The meeting which started in the evening continued till 10 p.m. Sources said neither side was willing to negotiate from their said position.

Protesting since Friday

The non-executive staff, including train operators, maintenance staff, station controllers and customer relation assistants, have been protesting since Friday against the management’s alleged failure to implement a two-year-old decision to upgrade their pay scales. “We will gather at the Yamuna Bank station on Sunday evening. Thereafter, from midnight of July 24, the protesting staff of around 9,000 will enforce a total shutdown,” Anil Kumar Mahato, the secretary of staff council, said.

Delhi Metro had in 2015 agreed “in principle” to upgrade pay scale of maintainers from ₹8,000-₹14,410 to ₹10,170-₹18,700 from July of that year. It was also decided to merge the pay scales ₹13,500-₹25,520 and ₹14,000-₹26,950. A new pay scale of ₹20,600-₹46,500 was to be introduced, as per the agreement, which was decided upon following a similar employee stir, Mr. Mahato said.

“Since the recommendations of the 3rd Pay Commission have been accepted by the government and orders are to be issued any time, it is not the right time to press for their demand for revision of pay scales at this juncture. All pay-related issues shall be dealt shortly after issue of orders by the government," the DMRC management responded.

The other demands of the agitating staff include right to form a union, suspension of disciplinary proceedings against three staff members, including Mr. Mahato and a CBI probe into alleged financial irregularities in the organisation.

The Delhi Metro, in a statement, said that issues are purely incidental to the individuals and the attempt on their part to push their personal agenda and invoke others to cause disruption is uncalled for.

"The employees have been misled by these individuals and an appeal has been issued for all of them to stay calm. We hope that the employees are not misguided by such elements. Staff council members are also called for discussion on these issues," it added.