South Western Railway Union Protests Outsourcing and Vacancies

Members of the South Western Railway Mazdoor Union (SWRMU) staged a protest at Rail Soudha in Hubballi on October 14, 2026. The union opposes the outsourcing and privatisation of core railway activities, including departments such as Electrical, Mechanical, and Signal and Telecommunication.

Demonstrators demanded the filling of long-standing vacancies for station masters and ticket-checking staff, while calling for career progression through pending departmental examinations. Further grievances include requests for improved staff facilities, regular railway colony maintenance, and the timely provision of quality protective equipment for employees across the Hubballi, Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Workshop divisions.

Editor's note: The brief accurately summarizes the protest, its location, the core grievances, and the specific departments involved.