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The International Labour Organization's governing body rejected the government measures of suspending trade unions and professional associations at Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)and stressed that the government of Pakistan that all facilities, rights and privileges should be immediately restored and that all declarations of the Geneva Convention should be observed. The ILO also stressed to the government of Pakistan that restrictions on trade union activities should immediately be lifted.
Members of the International Workers Transport Federation, which includes People's Unity (PIA), has filed a case with the International Labour Organization's governing body through the International Transport Federation against the government of Pakistan for suppressing the rights of trade unions and workers at Pakistan International Airlines and pointed to the failure of the legal system to restore these rights.
The ITF presented a complaint on behalf of its various civil aviation affiliates in Pakistan in communications dated August 7 and November 28 2002.
The ILO decided the case as following:
1- Chief executive order no 6/2001 and PIA administration orders no 14, 17, 18 and 25 should immediately be repealed. The right of trade union activities should immediately be restored.
2- The ILO's governing body said to the government of Pakistan that the government should restore all rights, facilities and privileges of the trade unions and association activists so that they will be able to work for the welfare of the employees and workers.
3- The governing body also formed a committee, which in the future would be responsible for observing whether the government of Pakistan and PIA are following the Geneva Convention rules and regulations.
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The present military ruler General Musharaf suspended the trade union and associations in PIA immediately after the coup and banned trade union and association activities in the institution by passing the order 6/2001. As a result, the PIA administration seized all the privileges which in the past were given to the trade union activist through the bilateral contracts. In response to this draconian order of the ruling class, People's Unity, Air League and PALPA filed an appeal in the Sindh High Court. The unions were of the view that General Musharaf passed the order illegally, and that he had no power to pass such an order. But Sindh High Court dismissed the appeal. The unions then again filed a written petition to the Supreme Court against this dismissal while People's Unity filed a case with the governing body of the ILO through the International Transport Federation.
On the present decision of the ILO, President of People's Unity Agha Jaffar, Secretary General Kamran Chaudry and Secretary of Information Comrade Sheikh Majeed stressed that the government must immediately restore the suspended trade unions and lift the ban on trade union and professional association activities.
Sheikh Majeed also warned that if the above demands are not fulfilled, People's Unity will launch a campaign and the regime would be forced to accept the demands. The President of the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign and Member of the Parliament Manzoor Ahamd said that the PTUDC fully supports People's Unity in its campaign and would fight until victory.
Please send solidarity messages to
unity_pia@hotmail.com ptudc@hotmail.com
Report By
Sheikh Majeed
Information Secretary
Peoples Unity, Pakistan International Airlines