Radio Pakistan is a very vital institution and union elections were held after 30 years when I along with my associates got a verdict from the Labour Court and our organization got a clear majority all over Pakistan. We are carrying on a struggle day and night for the radio workers’ G.P. fund, pension fund and other benefits. When we try to stop the injustices against the workers under this ‘democratic’ regime from our platform, the management uses different methods in an attempt to hamper our struggle. But we have kept the struggle going.

On 12^th November 2009 a rally was organized which marched up to the Prime Minister’s house and had a sit in for our legitimate rights. As a result of our struggle we had negotiations with the administration which turned out successful and the workers got their demands accepted. But the Secretariat Police Station lodged a case (MPO 341-188/186 8169) against 150 workers which is sheer injustice. We contacted the administration for this fake case but as yet we have not received the letter of cancellation of the case. We are not afraid of such cowardly tactics and the struggle for the rights of Radio workers will continue.

The contractual workers of Radio Pakistan have not yet been regularized as announced by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the minimum wage of Rs.6000/month is not being paid. The charter of demands by the Radio workers has also not yet been approved by the board of directors which is also an injustice. Another injustice is that the APT (Appointment, Promotion and Transfer) rules are being changed to prevent workers from being promoted. There are promotions policies in all sections of Radio just like other government departments and the workers are in agreement with these policies. Despite the opposition from CBA the management had taken up these rules in the board meeting which they later had to retract in the wake of CBA’s protests. Now we are giving call for protests in all four provinces and Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign has vowed to support us in this struggle.

Muhammad Ijaz, Secretary General, All Pakistan United Staff Organization
Shaheen Group CBA, Radio Pakistan