Trade Unions Recognition, Kaw Committee.

Trade Unions Recognition 

Rules for recognition of Unions/Associations of non-gazetted Railway employees are set out in Part B of Chapter XXV of Indian Railway Establishment Manual (IREM) Vol. II. 

Conditions precedent to the recognition of a union by Railway Administration are as follows:- 

A) The Union must consist of a distinct class of Railway servants and must not be formed on the basis of any caste, tribe or religious denominations or of any group within or section of such caste, tribe or religious denominations; 

B) All the Railway servants of the same class must be eligible for membership; 

C) The Union must be registered under the Trade Union Act, 1926; and 

D) The Union should have a membership of at least 30% of the non-gazetted employees whom it seeks to represent. The support of 30% staff being assessed on the basis of annual returns filed by them with the respective Registrar of Trade Unions. 

The minimum percentage of membership for grant of recognition of Unions was raised from 10% to 15% in 1961 and later on to 30% in 1985 on the recommendations of the Railway Reforms Committee. 

The Ministry of Railways stated in a written reply that generally, as a practice, the recognition of the Unions has been given by the General Managers on the basis of returns filed by the claimants with the Registrar of Trade Unions.

Kaw Committee:

Ministry of Railways have constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri C.L.Kaw, (Retired, Chairman, Railway Board) for holding the Secret Ballot for recognition of Railway Trade Unions, know as Kaw Committee.