Metro non-executive staff call off strike after Centre's intervention

The Delhi Metro non-executive staff on Sunday called off their mass strike scheduled for Monday, after the Urban Affairs Ministry asked Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to look into their demands.

The non-executive staff – such as customer relation officials, maintenance staff, station controllers, train operators and others – had been protesting since Friday.

Reportedly, the DMRC management failed to implement a two-year-old decision to revise their pay scales.

On Friday, the Metro Staff Council had threatened to escalate their protests and halt services on Monday if their demand for pay hike was not fulfilled.

In a meeting with DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh, representatives of the non-executive staff on late Saturday evening agreed on a mutual negotiation.

"In 2015, Delhi Metro had agreed 'in principle' to upgrade and merge the pay scale of maintainers."

"The recommendation under the 3rd Pay Commission has been accepted by the government and orders are to be issued anytime. All issues related to pay shall be dealt shortly after issuing of orders by the government," the DMRC management said in a statement.

"The ongoing protests by DMRC's non-executive employees was called off on Sunday after all issues raised by the agitating employees were amicably settled, following many rounds of meetings and deliberations with DMRC Managing Director Mangu Singh and other senior officials," DMRC spokesman Anuj Dayal said in a press statement.

"Delhi Metro services will continue as per schedule on Monday," Dayal added.

The issue was also deliberated upon on at a high-level meeting chaired by Urban Development Ministry Secretary D S Mishra and Delhi Chief Secretary M M Kutty with Singh, the statement said.

Delhi Metro has around 9,000 non-executive staff, who perform critical functions, such as station controllers, train operators, station managers, and junior engineers etc.

They protested by wearing black arm bands and organising sit-ins at different Metro stations.

The Council had been demanding a hike in salaries of non-executive staff, whose basic pay at present varies from Rs 8,000 to Rs 14,410.

As per the pay structure for grade 'C' and D, the pay scales of non-executive staff in the grade of Rs 8,000-14,140 onwards shall be upgraded to the next higher grade.

The grade of Rs 13,500-25,520 and Rs 14,000-26,950 shall be merged.

Moreover, a new pay scale of Rs 20,600-46,500 will be introduced, which will be the apex level for non-executive staff.

Employees in this apex pay scale will not be eligible for perks or facilities at par with executives and will continue to draw perks and facilities of non-executive staff.

A one-time minimum benefit of Rs 500 in basic pay shall be granted to all non-executive employees, on account of upgradation of pay scales. Additionally, arrears will be paid as per July 01, 2015.