About five hundred employees belonging to Technical employees Association of Railways (TEAR) and unemployed apprentices today staged a dharna in the premises of Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in protest against the decision of Railway Board to withdraw the powers of General Manager to recruit only 2 percent of the apprentices. The agitating employees also held a rally and all the speakers criticized the decision of the railway board to limit the powers of the GM to recruit only two percent of apprentices who got one year training in the training institute at RCF. Addressing the rally, TEAR President Paramjit Singh Khalsa and staff council Joint secretary Sarabjit Singh said that there were 380 unemployed apprentices who had taken one year training from RCF and most of the trainees are either diploma holders or B.Tech engineers could be easily absorbed in the RCF but Railway Board vide its letter on Sept.17,2010 had withdrawn the powers of GM to recrurit upto two percent of apprentices resulted in unrest and resentment among the unemployed apprentices. The TEAR employees expressed their solidarity with the unemployed apprentices as they took one day leave from the factory to join dharna with the striking apprentices. The agitating employees also met GM and gave him a memorandum in which they demanded the revocation of powers of GM and urged the GM to discuss the issue with Railway Board.They even sought appointment with Railway Board to solve the issue of apprentices. They warned to intensify the agitation in case apprentices issue was not resolved. Kpt item two Kapurthala Dec.9; The technical staff of Poercom today observed strike in support of their demands. They were demanding the mplementation of agreement reached between the employees, power board and government. According to official sources, more than 60% employees went on strike.