FOLLOWING a Delhi High Court order to conduct a secret ballot election for the recognition of railway trade unions (i.e., verification of membership in Indian Railways) in a case filed by the Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU) in Southern Railway, an affiliate of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), elections were held on December 4, 5, and 6, 2024. These elections took place across 17 zones and two production units: Chittaranjan Locomotive Works and Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala.

Secret ballot elections in the Indian Railways have been conducted since 2007, following a Supreme Court order. The second such election was held in 2013. The third election, as per the established modalities, was due in 2019. However, the Railway Ministry did not want to conduct the elections on the pretext that the norms for recognition have to be based on the Industrial Relations Code of 2020, which remains unenforced as state governments have not yet notified the rules due to the opposition of the trade unions. This delay prompted DREU to plead for elections based on existing norms. Despite the Ministry's repeated attempts to postpone the elections, citing reasons such as monsoons, state assembly elections, and peak goods movement, the court ultimately directed for the elections to be held.

As per the norms, two unions can be recognised under specific conditions: If two unions secure 30 per cent of the total electorate in a railway zone or production unit, both are recognised. If one union achieves 30 per cent of the total electorate, and another union secures 35 per cent of the valid votes polled, both are recognised. A union securing 15 per cent of the total electorate is entitled to have notice boards and hold gate meetings. This norm, though beneficial for smaller unions, was introduced to favour the RSS-backed Bharatiya Rail Mazdoor Sangh (BRMS).

The main contestants in the Indian Railways elections were the AIRF and NFIR unions. AIRF is an affiliate of HMS, while NFIR is an affiliate of INTUC. Both federations had continued to enjoy recognition without elections, which led to their discredit among railway workers. They were criticised for supporting the Unified Pension Scheme and the National Pension Scheme (NPS) and for failing to mount effective resistance against privatisation, outsourcing, non-filling of vacancies, the ban on the creation of posts, violations of safety norms, and inadequate investment in infrastructure for expansion and safety.

Another federation, the Bharatiya Rail Mazdoor Sangh (BRMS), affiliated to the BMS of the RSS, has an insignificant presence in the railways. However, the Minister of Railways reportedly directed the All India SC/ST Railway Employees Union and the All India OBC Railway Employees Association to support the BRMS.

In the absence of a formidable alternative in many railway zones, AIRF and NFIR managed to secure recognition in 13 railway zones each. These two federations will get recognition as according to the norms, a federation must secure recognition in at least six railways and 15 per cent of the total valid votes polled across Indian Railways to be recognised.

There are two CITU-affiliated unions in Indian Railways and production units: the Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU) in Southern Railway and the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works Labour Union (CLWLU) in Chittaranjan Locomotive Works. Both unions achieved recognition in this election.

The Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU) is a historic union established in 1918, making it 106 years old. It has a rich legacy of linking the freedom struggle with workers' demands and launching uncompromising struggles. After independence, DREU has remained at the forefront of the fight against anti-worker and anti-people policies of the central government, while consistently addressing the issues of railway workers. The union has led various struggles against neoliberal policies such as the National Pension Scheme (NPS), Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), privatisation, and outsourcing. It has also successfully secured the absorption of a large number of casual workers and employment opportunities for apprentices recruited under the railway act.

These efforts helped DREU win the first secret ballot election in 2007 and now, the third election. The anti-worker stance of the AIRF and its affiliate SRMU was exposed among the workers, contributing to DREU’s success. In this election, DREU was supported by nine unions, including AISMA (All India Station Masters’ Association), AILRSA (All India Loco Running Staff Association), and RLLF (affiliated with the VCK party).

DREU secured 26,151 votes, which is 34.11 per cent of the total electorate of 76,653, despite having a membership base of only 15,000. In contrast, the AIRF-affiliated SRMU, even after allegedly distributing cash, biryani, and liquor to gain votes, managed only a slim lead of 107 votes over DREU, securing 34.25 per cent. This marks a significant decline from their dominance in the 2013 election, where they had become the sole union with 43 per cent of the votes.

The SRES, an affiliate of the NFIR (INTUC union), secured only 16 per cent of the votes, despite campaigning as an opponent to the AIRF union. For the third consecutive election, they failed to achieve recognition. Meanwhile, the Karmik Sangh of BRMS (RSS-backed) managed just 4 per cent of the votes, even with the support of the SC/ST union.

A huge victory rally and public meeting was held at the General Manager's Office in Chennai on December 18, 2024, despite heavy rain. A Janakiraman, working president, presided over the meeting. The meeting was addressed by T K Rengarajan, ex-MP; G Sukumaran, president; A K Padmanabhan, vice president of CITU, and V Harilal, general secretary of DREU. All leaders assured their commitment to working for the welfare of all workers in Southern Railway.

In the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), the CLW Labour Union (CLWLU) secured 3,026 votes out of 7,551, achieving 43.2 per cent. The AIRF-affiliated union garnered only 138 votes, while the NFIR-affiliated union received 2,895 votes, or 41 per cent. This marked the first secret ballot election in CLW, following the union's court victory that mandated such elections for recognition.

As a CITU-affiliated union, CLWLU has been at the forefront of the struggle to retain CLW in the government sector. It has consistently championed workers’ rights and exposed the pro-government policies of AIRF and NFIR. The union has actively opposed the neoliberal policies of the government, which is why workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of CLWLU, even though it lacks a federation.

Both DREU and CLWLU now have a significant role to play as alternatives in organising railway workers. They aim to resist privatisation, the National Pension Scheme (NPS), and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) and to strive for the constitution of the 8th Pay Commission, along with other central government unions.