7th Pay Commission: As the wait for increased salaries under 7th pay commission continues, a section of employees has resolved to start a protest. The Northern Railway Workers Union had called for a meeting to discuss their demands including allowances and old pension under the 7th pay commission. Apart from this, the employees also want the government to increase the fitment factor from 2.57 to 3.8. 

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The union got a boost after former Delhi chief minister and Congress leader Sheila Dikshit joined them and assured that if Congress forms the government in 2019, it will try to fulfill their demands. These employees have already announced that they will only support the party which will fulfill their demands. 

Speaking to ZeeBiz.Com, SN Mallik, president of the Northern Railway Workers Union, confirmed that Dr M Raghavaiah, General Secretary of National Federation of Indian Railway Men had also met Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and informed him about their demands. 

Mallik said that the minister had promised to look into the demands. He added that the ministry had assured the employees time and again but has failed to fulfill the demands. If it happens again, the union will intensify the protest, he said. 

Below are the key demands of the employees:

1. Minimum salary be hiked to Rs 26,000 from Rs 18,000
2. 7th pay commission fitment factor be increased to 3.7 from 2.57
3. Old pension scheme be restored
4. Supervisors' grade pay be increased to 4800 from 4600
5. Running staffs be given allowances as per the recommendations of the 7th CPC

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The union has given a week's time to the Centre to respond to their demands. If no announcement is made within a week, the employees will set a strategy for holding the strike.