Workers’ struggle at Taunsa Barrage led by PTUDC puts capitalist extortionists on back foot Pakistan Share Tweet The workers of the Taunsa Bridge have won an important victory in their struggle for payment of wage arrears and improved working conditions. Most of their demands have been met, and the rest will be fulfilled within 48 hours. The struggle of the workers of DESCON (a multinational Corporation) is being followed by workers of the Kot Addu district and the whole country. Workers from various trade unions and industries gathered at the PTUDC office in Kot Addu and discussed the matter. All the workers were of the opinion that the strike should continue and they will support the cause of the workers of DESCON at Taunsa Barrage. Today on April 11 a demonstration was called by the PTUDC in front of the Kot Addu Press club to support the cause of the DESCON workers. Demonstrators first gathered in front of labor club Kot Addu and marched towards the press club chanting slogans against the brutal exploitation of multinational corporations. Demonstrators were mainly trade union activists and students who were holding banners and placards and chanting slogans. The following slogans were seen at this demonstration. Expulsion of Administrative Officer Ch. Manzoor and charging him with murder. For the acceptance of the demands of the workers To probe the suicide of a TMA and that the persons responsible for pushing him to suicide should be charged The demands of the Kot Addu Power Company workers must be accepted immediately There were other slogans present as well against anti-labor laws and unemployment. Looking at the determination and the courage of the workers and their unity with other trade unions the DESCON company authorities understood that if the strike continued that it would spread like wild fire at all the company's sites which are scattered across Pakistan and abroad. This fear of the power of the workers forced the company authorities to accept the demands forwarded jointly by the PTUDC and the workers' action committee of the employees of DESCON. The following demands were immediately accepted by the company: Cruel Administrative Officer Ch. Manzoor is to be expelled and shifted from this job site All workers were paid their overdue wages and arrears. These wages were handed over to comrades of the PTUDC who gave it to the workers A medical unit has been established at the site and a graduate doctor has been appointed there. Mazdoor Ittehad (Workers Alliance), a union formed by the comrades of the PTUDC at the Taunsa Barrage is recognized as a formal trade union After these demands were met and concrete assurances were made that all other demands would be met within 48 hours, the workers went back to work feeling the fruits of their unity and the result of their class power. However, the workers are aware that their struggle is not yet over and unless this brutal capitalist system is overthrown their struggle will continue. The following are the names of some trade union representatives and political activists who attended the meetings and demonstration: 1. Abid Shah, Secretary of Information, Al Barq Union (CBA) KAPCO 2. Mehboob Alam Bhopali, President Al Barq Union (CBA) KAPCO 3. Nazir Ahmed, Employees Union KAPCO 4. Ameen Chishti, Disrict President All Pakistan clerks Association APCA 5. Master Imam Din, District President Punjab Teachers Union 6. Zia ud Din, Punjab Teachers Union 7. Rauf, Teachers Union 8. Intizar Khan, District President Employees Union TMA 9. Hidayat Masih, Octroy Union Kot Addu 10. Yusaf Masih, Employees Union TMA 11. Hamid Masih, Employees Union TMA 12. Malik Azhar Hussain, Divisonal Chairman Hydro electricCentral Labour Union 13. Safdar Nazir saghar, Hydro Electric Central Labour Union 14. Farooq Khan, Hydro Electric Central Labour Union 15. Riaz Sindhi, Hydro Electric Central Labour Union 16. Sheikh Abdul Jabbar, Paigham Union 17. Kalim shah, Employees Union PTCL 18. Jalil ur Rehman, Phool Union 19. Shafqat Balouch, Anjmun Patwarian Kot Addu 20. Sibtain Shah, Employees Union of Vetrinary Staff 21. Doctor Hayat, Staff Association of Veterinary Doctors 22. Prof. Anjum, Lecturers and Professors Association 23. Allah ditta, Mazdoor Ittehad DESCON Project Taunsa Barrage 24. Imtiaz, Irrigation Empolyees Union Kot Addu 25. Tariq, Peoples Youth Organization PYO 26. Amman Ullah Tariq, District President Peoples Lawyers Bureau 27. Comrade Zulfiqar Ali, BNT( Unemployed Youth Movement ) 28. Comrade Shehryar, Mazdoor Ittehad DESCON Project Taunsa Barrage & PTUDC 29. Comrade Ali Akbar, Mazdoor Ittehad DESCON Project Taunsa Barrage & PTUDC 30. Comrade Amir Latif, PYO 31. Comrade Basit Saho, District President Peoples Student Federation PSF 32. Comrade Imran Mughal, BNT (Unemployed Youth Movement) After the demonstration a meeting was held at the Kot Addu Labour Club in support of the cause of the Airbus workers. A resolution was presented by Comrade Ali Akbar which was unanimously passed at the meeting. The resolution stated that if the demands of the workers of Airbus were not met then the workers in Kot Addu and Pakistan would hold a series of rallies and demonstrations.
