Workers get their city back; complete strike in Karachi

Today is the landmark in recent history of working class movement when Karachi,industrial capital of Pakistan totally shutdown, road giving desert look, all business centers and shopping markets were closed and no transport was on roads.

The strike was in support of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) worker who were put in surplus pole illegally. The three unions including CBA formed their alliance against the injustice of KESC management. Total numbers of employees is around 11,000 out of which 4,500 declared surplus and process was started to retrench them any time.

Management had been propagating that these workers were borden on the sole electricity supply entity but in contradictory to its claim nearly 6000 unskilled have been recruited on contact basis. Which resulted in total collapse of tpower supply system and created acute electric supply. crises in the city and hamper the smooth functioning of production in hundred of thousands in big and small factories.

The management wanted to terminate thousands of skilled workforce in close collaboration of coalition partner of Sindh government in clandestine agreement to recruit their cronies on contact basis to weaken the growing militant trade union tradition in KESC which primarily challenging every anti worker move of the management.

The management have had failed to abruptly terminate these 4500 workers last year when thousands of KESC workers along with other trade union and political activists peacefully occupied the surrounding of headoffice for more than one week.

It is very interesting that the sitting CBA union won the referendum after defeating the union supported by both PPP and MQM ruling parties.

46 representatives of KESC workers unions were on hunger strike since 29 April which was converted into protest on the appeal of Abdul Sattar Edhi, veteran humanitarian and social activist last week. Thousands of worker still continually gathering at protest camp at Karachi Press Club.

Today on the appeal of different political parties, trade bodies and unions to observe one day strike all over city get historic response and first time city was standstill in support of workers demand to withdraw surplus pole order, re nationalization of KESC and acceptance of all demands of struggling KESC workers.

The successful strike has strengthen the process to give true face to the city, a working class city with militant and revolutionary traditions.

National Trade Union Federation has been with the KESC workers struggle since the day one, it has bring out ten thousand pamphlets in support of workers cause and distributed all over city, organized rally and regularly visit the protest camp.

If the demands of KESC workers would not be accepted NTUF has decided to organize huge protest rally in Karachi next week, modulates have been finalized and date will be announce tomorrow evening after NTUF meeting.

Long live workers struggle

June 4, 2011

Nasir Mansoor
Deputy General Secretary
National Trade Union Federation,Pakistan
628,Mashriq Center, Gulshan Iqbal 14
Karachi,Pakistan

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 PRESS RELEASE (PEOPLES WORKERS UNION - KESC)

KARACH: (6TH June 2011) Peoples Workers Union, KESC General Secretary Lateef
Mughal has condemned the modus operandi of private owners of KESC for
throwing entire responsibility of current electricity crisis on unions in
the corporation and pointed out that entire world knows these private owners
have shut down the power plants running on furnace oil since they took over
in 2008 and were relying on electricity generated from gas, which is
cheaper.

In a press statement issued here, Lateef Mughal said the private owners had
purchased furnace oil on subsidized rates by black-mailing the government
and minting billions of rupees from the Federal government as subsidy in the
name of citizens of Karachi. Payments are not being done to PSO, SSGC, and
IPPs and despite getting all the incentives from the government not passing
on the benefits to the consumers. Instead, the private owners were creating
artificial power crisis to bring misery to the people and industrial and
commercial activities in Karachi have been brought to almost standstill.

He said on the other hand the private owners were trying to throw entire
responsibility on unions unjustifiably while KESC workers alliance were
carrying out peaceful struggle, victimization and against the surplus pool.

Lateef Mughal pointed out that private owners and management was indulging
in sabotage activities to defame workers unions as proved by their
allegations against unions that miscreants attacked Clifton Grid Station on
June 3 during strike and closed down 27 feeders, including the one feeding
Bilawal House. He said no such incident happened and local police is witness
to it, thus proving that the management itself closed down the feeders and
blamed on the unions.

Peoples Workers Union demanded high-level probe into the Clifton Grid
Station incident.

Issued by:

Lateef Mughal

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 Pakistan Labour Federation (PLF) Support the KESC Workers Rights

The Executive Board of Pakistan Labour Federation (PLF) fully supported the demands of KESC workers and appreciated the acton of the businesmans and and others to show their support to shutdown their business.

Haji Muhammad Saeed Arian Foubder/Secretray General condemned the action of the KESC Mangament to put the workers in surplus ploe illegally and to retrench the workers without any justfication. He said that these workers are not borden on the KESC, but the mangement recruted new workers on Contact basis. those are unskilled and responsible in total collapse of power supply system and created acute electric supply. crises in the city and hamper the smooth functioning of production in hundred of thousands in big and small factories.

Mrs Atia Saleem Chairperson (PLF) Demnanded The Management of KESC to stop the termination of thousands of skilled workers

(Main Latif Arshad)
Secretary Information
Pakistan Laboiur Federation (PLF)
Affiliated with World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

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 More on Karachi’s strike

Thanks for the response and point of view in respect of yesterdays strike and on KESC workers movement.

Sorry for late reply because I was in Vinder an industrial center in Balochistan. Our friends from Pasni Harbor unions were with us to discuss the situation about kidnapping of our five trade union representatives by secret agencies since 28 May; they contacted all concern quarters but failed to get any response so there was strike in Pasni for two days, there was no alternate but to use democratic way to call for strike.

When I was in Balochistan it was second day of strike in all parts of Balochistan against the brutal murder of Professor Dashyari, a freedom loving Baloch intellectual and teacher at Balochistan University, life was stand still. Baloch nation don’t have other option other than to call for strike.

The issues raised in some mails on KESC workers movement and strike, I was really expected that variety of responses. The union leading the movement is the legally representative elected body to bargain collectively on behalf of workers. When 4,500 workers were forced to relieve from their jobs with out any legal ground, union tried her best to settle the issue through peaceful bilateral negotiations with KESC management but the management having the support of so-called representatives of the city ignored all these offers in arrogance. Â

The union selects the democratic and peaceful mean of protest and 46 workers including office bearers of the unions have started hunger strike till death at front of Karachi Press Club from 29^th May but management didn’t return to start negotiation with the elected representatives of the workers instead has started sinister misinformation against the peaceful workers and their struggle. No body in government care about the rights of workers enshrine in sacred constitution, no big cry from other quarters for the protection of legal and constitutional right of the workers who spend their golden period of lives for the progress and betterment of the KESC.

To held, demos, rallies and call for strike is healthy democratic norm, right and the tradition all over world to expression anger and protest against the injustice. Obviously it put burden on the lives of some sections of society especially the poor but for the secure future and better society some time it compelled to put into practice these norms, as on the murder of ST there was complete strike in Punjab, Sindhi Nationalist parties hold big rally and block the main highway in Hyderabad, we all friends in Karachi also organized rally from KPC and went around Zanab market and Fawara Chowk and choked the rush hours traffic.

I am saying it with all responsibility that there is not a single incident of violence initiated from workers side it is only the smear campaign launched with huge money of tax payers and the consumers by the management with some media houses only objective is to create rift between workers and the citizens.

The electricity crisis in the city has nothing to do with the workers strike. It was the policies of KESC which obstruct the smooth supply of power to the consumers. The KESC management through summarily issued orders to put 4,500 skilled workers in surplus pole and simultaneously recruited 6,000 persons on contact, majority of them don’t know how to handle the technical problems. The management didn’t allow these workers to perform their duties. This is the root cause of problem faced by the millions of citizens of the city.

Workers want to work but management does not allow them to do it. If in any organization nearly 50% of its strength is being forced to go out how it works properly. If KESC management thinks these workers are more than the required employees than why it has employed 6,000 workers on contact. The only reason is that they don’t want permanent workers, totally in breach of Supreme Court orders and against the spirit of Industrial Relation Act and ILO conventions on labour rights.

We are for the industrial and economic growth but not on the cost of denying workers basic economic and democratic rights, the privatization panacea for industrial growth has failed miserably all over world and Pakistan is the real basket case nearly of rotten theory. Nearly 0.8 million workers were sacked from their jobs in last ten years, fundamental right to have association and collective bargaining have been snatched in all sectors of economy.

The trade union never ever get in the way of industrial peace but it was the anti workers measures of the bourgeoisie who compel the worker to restore to other means including the protests. It is the fact that 94% of the workers don’t have appointment letters, more than 80% of all the factories are not registered with relevant factory acts, 96% private establishment never pay their due to Social Security and EOBI which is obligatory and out of 50 million work force of the country only 3% were organized in the unions. In 90% factories 7,000 minimum wage is not paid to workers and in majority of factories workers labor for 12 to 14 hour a day on 5000 to 6000 per month.

In power loom sector only in Karachi nearly 600,000 workers engaged with it but living in 21 century they were still not entitled for weekly holiday. If some one still thinks that it is the fault of worker and impedes the industrialization and smooth growth of so-called bourgeoisie, it is time to rethink seriously. After the collapse of Paris Commune by the bloody hand of capitalism, it is no more a progressive system and history has been proving it day and night since 18 century.

I did not mention in my email the name of the parties support the strike call and I have no covetousness against any left or progressive party , it is my family and very very dear to me. I respect workers Party from my heart because all of my political teachers and guides belong to WPP. I love and respect them all. I have started my political life under their leadership.

When I mentioned militancy I did not suggest do up for violent means, it is for steadfastness, persistence, commitment and determination as have had shown by the KESC workers.

If we are for constitutional right and social justice, for right of association and collective bargaining, for appointment letters to all the workers at the time of employment, registration of all the workers with Social security and Employees Old Age benefit Institute (EOBI), implementation of minimum wage in all factories, we should stand with millions of workers and their just cause.

We may involve with them and show our solidarity to them. If we are with them we may do some thing concrete to stop the penetration of right and extreme right wingers in ranks and files of the working class. Trade union is still not polluted with the religious extremism we have to strengthen this tradition with all our efforts and am sure that this is the one of the strongest social forces which fight against the bigotry and religious fundamentalism till its defeat. It was proved in Failsalabd and Jhang where religious extremist groups have sway over these territories but with the strengthening of textile and power loom workers movement these groups have been shrinking and becoming rootless.

Comradely

June 5, 2011

Nasir Mansoor
Deputy General Secretary
National Trade Union Federation,Pakistan
404 & 628,Mashriq Center, Gulshan Iqbal 14,
Karachi, Pakistan.

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 KESC Crisis and point scoring game of ruling parties

Dear all,

A very good information is been provided by Zulfiqar Haliopoto from Sindh about the crisis of Karachi Electricity. It shows how the main political parties have contributed to this crisis by inducting their own sons and daughters on lucrative posts at privatized KESC. Then, they gave political support to the administration of KESC to fire over 4000 workers on permanent jobs. This was also to pave the way for workers on contract and with a hope that their party activists nominations would be employed by KESC.

This is a dirty game by MQM and PPP. We must expose these coalition partners in Sindh and their hypocritical support for the strikers.

Please rad the following eye opener revelations by Zulfiqar.

June 4, 2011

Farooq Tariq

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PPP-MQM and all other parliamentary groups are talking in favour of the workers but the fact is that all groups are getting incentives and bribes in the shape of appointments of ‘favorites and cronies on heavy packages at the cost of workers incentives.

In January this year, more than 4,000 employees declared ‘non-core personnel’ were restored by the coalition government but KESC management refused to accept the surplus personnel voluntarily. Now the solution is announcement of golden handshake packages and peaceful, dialogue and negotiation with the labour. Government should kick out the ‘appointees of political elites, who were bribed for their political pressure.

On one hand KESC management is calling these 400 people as burden and on the other hand same management has appointed 650 people at packages ranging from Rs 150,000 to Rs500, 000.

Here is the list of some (there is a long list of these kind of people)

· Shahbaz Beg son of MQM-MNA Khushbakht Shujat- package Rs 500,000.

· Pir Danish, son of PPP minister Pir Mazharul Haq- Rs 500,000- designation Government Affairs Director.

· Nayyat Hussain, a relative of PPP MNA Sherry Rehman-Technical Group Head-package 2.5 million per month.

· Asif Hussain- brother of MQM provincial minister Aadil Siddiqi- KESC Production Department’s revenue director- package is 700,000 per month

· Abid Hussain, brother of MQM’s parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly, Syed Sardar Ahmed- project director- package Rs 500,000 per month

· MQM diehard activist Abrar Hussain- Project-2 Director- package Rs 500,000.

· Naveed Hussain- close relative of PML-Q’s MNA Humayun Akhtar- Group Head of Recovery-package is Rs 29 lakh per month.

· Tayyab Tareen from Multan- Finance Group Head- sent by the Prime Minister’s House.

· Former heads of Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) Karachi and Islamabad, Brig. (retd) Mazhar Ahmed and Brig. (retd) Masood Ahmed- security chiefs. Package Rs 1.5 million each per month. Diretly appointed by President’s House.

· About 18 retired colonels are working for the company, sources said. “Col (retd) Wahid Asghar, Col (retd) Imran Nadeem Khuwaja, Col (retd) Saqi, Col(retd) Aamir are among the former military men hired in the company. They all are pocketing Rs 500,000 every month

· Asir Manzoor- group head of Human Resources- package Rs 2 million. He worked in Ittefaq Foundry owned by leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

· Zarar Nasir Khan- general manger- package is Rs 500,000 ( he is brother-in-law of Asir and within 18 months, Manzoor promoted Khan twice – first as deputy general manager and then as general manager. His appointment is illegal. He is an intermediate only.

Now you please think and decide that are the demands workers, who earn between Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,000 for their livelihood and to feed their families, unjustified.

Instead of resolving the issue and listen to the workers demands, the KESC management is releasing millions of rupees advertisements to print and electric channels against the workers. So-called PAID MOULVIS like Mufti Naeem are talking poison against the workers and calling the strike ‘un-Islamic’.

Main parliamentary groups PPP and MQM are just playing with the press galleries. They should take this issue seriously. Immediately withdraw the ‘politically motivated appointments of their cronies and favorites.

Today’s strike was justified and more support should be provided to the workers by all who believe that silence means support to the evil. Civil society should take a firm stand.

Regards,

Zulfiqar Halepoto

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 My arguments for KESC striking workers

7 June

Dear all,

This is in relation to the debate on KESC

It seems that many of those taking part in this debate has some biases and preconceived notions against workers, unions and workers democratic rights

It is presumed that those who were involved in some sort of attacks were definitely KESC workers, I again say that when government, law enforcing agencies, private security guards, MQM and PPP all are with the management so it is easy to arrest the miscreants and trail in court of law. Why are not those arrested who were involved in these incidents?

Workers have been very peaceful and they have chosen very lawful actions of sit in and dharna. look at the subsidy given by this government to KESC when KESC is a privatized institution. The subsidy given to KESC is not for the workers but for the management high up with hefty salaries ranging from half a million to 6 million a month excluding the perks and privileges.

I am surprised that none of you have spoken to the eye opener facts presented about perks and wages of the PPP, MQM and other political parties cronies, presented in a mail on SPN by Zulfiq Holipoto. Here lies the loot and plunder of the KESC and not those working on 7000 to 10,000 Rupees a month.

KESC has 2.2 million consumers and according to the standard in our regional countries like India and Bangladesh, KESC definitely need 37,000 workers to run the company work smoothly. Now KESC has 17,000 out of which 6000 are on contract and 45000 were under threat of retrenchment.

Before the privatization KESC was getting 7 billion subsidy but after privation it is fetching 35 billion, before the privatization KESC was not under any debt but it has pledged all of its assets to get loan of 200 Billion. This is sheer manipulation of facts and figures by the privatized management to show that they are in loss.

They always do that. This is a historic strategy of the bosses to tell the public and the government that they are in loss. If they are in loss, why do not they leave that business and do something that is profitable, after all the only reason for these companies are to make money, what else.

Generation capacity of KESC was 1700MW before the privatization but now it produce only 400MW. It has increased the tariff 200% since KESC become private corporation, it was agreed in privatization deal that tariff will not be increased till 2012.

Lets organize a round table and call all the stake folder including unions, management and concern citizen to get first hand information and solution to the problem. Union is more than agree to sit on table and negotiate the issue bilaterally.

My request to all of you who talk about humanity, justice democracy and life for all to look into facts of the lives of the working class in Pakistan. There is great difference between the lives of the working class and the rich. The radical liberals must side with the working class and not buy the arguments of the bosses.

Please visit the camp at press club and get first hand information, they are not involve in any unlawful and violent action any where in the city.

KESC belong to worker, they never do any demage to it.

Nasir Mansoor
deputy secretary
National Trade Union Federation,Pakistan
Labour secretary, Labour Party Pakistan

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