Pakistan steel mills of Karachi was established in 1972. It started production in 1976-77 with a total production capacity of 1,100,000 tons per year. This mega-project was completed with full technical and financial assistance and co-operation from the Soviet Union. Its total working strength was 23,000. Now the total workforce is only 13,000.
In last three years 7,500 workers have been sacked in the name of downsizing, "golden handshakes", and structural adjustment. Trade unionism began with the formation of the Progressive Workers' Union dominated by left wing workers. This union started the struggle for workers rights. Another union was formed with the help of the military dictatorship by the fundamentalists, mainly dominated by the Jamati-e-Islami. The military dictatorship gives full support to this union to divide the workers.
More than 800 workers were sacked because they were involved in the movement for restoration of democracy (MRD). Many workers were sent to prison and tortured not only by the state but also by the fundamentalist union's workers. They nevertheless fought with great heart and defeated the nexus of dictatorship and fundamentalism.
In 1988 a new union was formed by the MQM (a petty bourgeois reactionary outfit) with the help of their terrorist wing, called the united workers' front. Despite its name, this union divided the workers on an ethnic basis. The terrorists of this union killed and severely tortured dozens of workers belonging to different nationalities. This reactionary union won the referendum 1990, and started using fascist methods against left wingers and PPP activists.
In 1992 the Nawaz Sharif Government banned trade union activities and appointed an army general to crush the trade unions. This army general especially cracked down on the People's Workers Union.
In 1995 the regime of Benazir Bhutto restored trade union activities. The People's Workers Union won the referendum and signed an historic agreement with the management. The salary of an ordinary worker was increased by between 4,000 to 5,000 rupees and all the sacked trade union workers were reinstated.
Faqir Muhammad Hamayti, the vice president (PWU) and organizer of the PTUDC in Karachi played an important role in this struggle. The present military regime has especially targeted the steel workers. The following facilities have already been withdrawn:
- Medical facilities
- Overtime
- Transport
- Bonuses
There has been no increase in the wages for the last four years. Living standards are falling drastically. There is an unannounced ban on trade union activities.
The management is spending millions of rupees to stop the announcement of a referendum which has been due for the last 4 years. In June this year 9 workers were killed in en explosion in the steel mill, because the management is not spending enough money to maintain working conditions and machinery. When the union distributed a leaflet on this issue, management issued a "showcase" notice to 17 leaders.
PTUDC's role
The PTUDC has played an important role in the struggle of the steel workers. The PTUDC organized press conferences, seminars, public meetings and has printed many leaflets and posters against downsizing, privatisation, retrenchment and the ban on trade union activities. The PTUDC campaign has forced the management to hold back their anti-workers policies of retrenchment and downsizing.
With the help of the international campaign and solidarity, the PTUDC saved the jobs of 17 leaders, including Faqir Hamayti, organizer of the PTUDC in Karachi. The PTUDC is giving every possible help and assistance to the steel workers, despite having very limited resources. At this moment the PTUDC is in struggle to save 4,000 jobs that are under threat. The PTUDC will continue its struggle to save and protect the rights of workers under any conditions.