| Pakistan Workers Union wins PS referendum |
| Friday, 13 June 2008 | |
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Unofficial results state that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-backed Pakistan Steel People’s Workers Union (PSPWU), also known as Pakistan Workers Union (PWU), scored a clear victory in the referendum for the Pakistan Steel (PS) Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA). The referendum was held Thursday for the first time in 11 years. The contest for CBA referendum between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)-backed United Workers Front (UWF) and the PWU was, one way or another, one-sided because the latter had the support of all other labour unions registered for the referendum. The winning union bagged approximately 4,065 votes whereas their only opponent could garner only 654 votes out of a total of 5,321 registered votes. Some 64 votes were cast for other candidates, who did not step down in time in favour of PWU leader, Shamshad Qureshi. Labour (East Division) Joint Director Meer Muhammad Baloch told The News that the official results would be announced within a day or two. Only permanent employees were allowed to vote in the referendum and 19 postal ballots votes were also cast, Baloch said. Employees were directed to come with their original PS ID cards to cast votes. Only 14 people were allowed vote after showing their original CNICs because they had permission to participate in the referendum from the court concerned. The referendum was held peacefully, and candidates belonging to different unions raised slogans in favour of their respective candidates. The supporters of PASLU, who had won two referenda in the past, also rallied for the PWU and their workers were present at the PWU camps. The referendum was scheduled from 09:00am to 6:00pm. Meanwhile, people from different trade unions visited the main PWU camp, which was established in the parking lot, near the PS gate No.2. Interestingly, the charter of demands of both (the PWU and UWF) was quite similar and both unions focused on increments in basic salary, sons’ quota, post-retirement medical facilities, pension schemes, promotion of employees, residential settlements of employees, and the appointment of daily wage employees as part of the permanent workforce. The PWU additionally demanded plant maintenance, and taking the employees directly under the PS payroll system rather than paying them through third-party agents. The PWU demanded that the third-party agent, the Al-Hadeed Trust, be discontinued permanently. Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah praised all the candidates of the PWU on their success in the referendum, and said that the PWU would work for employees and help them in addressing grievances. PPP Karachi President Faisal Raza Abidi also congratulated the PWU on their victory and said that was actually the victory of the late Benazir Bhutto’s ideology. History of Referendums No. Referendum date Elected Union Central Leader voters First 1979 Progressive Gulzar Begum 14,000 Referendum Workers Union Second 1981 Labour Union Umar Baqi 21,000 Referendum Pasloo Third 1984 Progressive Gulzar Begum 21,000 Referendum Workers Union Fourth 1986 Labour Union Pasha Ahmed Gul 25,000 Referendum Pasloo Fifth 1988 Peoples Tajdar Siddiqui 25,000 Referendum Workers Union Sixth 1990 United Khalid Murtaza 25,000 Referendum Workers Front Seven 1994 Peoples Shamshad 10,000 Referendum Workers Union Qureshi PWU leader Shamshad Qureshi was sacked by General Sabih Qamar-uz-Zaman in the early 90s on charges of corruption. PWU supporters claimed, however, that the sacking was politically-motivated. The News also learnt that a person who was earlier contesting in the referendum was called over to the Bilawal House and was directed to step down in favour of Qureshi, otherwise, his basic membership from party would be discontinued and the party would not be responsible for any act of his. The News tried to contact Qureshi to get his version on this. He could, however, not be reached, because he was busy in arranging things during the referendum. |
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