Pakistan: Strike of the PTCL NCPG workers enters fourth week

The strike of the NCPG workers at Pakistan Telecommunications Ltd., which started on May 5, is continuing amid serious threats by the company administration and is now in its fourth week.

The strike of the NCPG workers at Pakistan Telecommunications Ltd., which started on May 5, is continuing amid serious threats by the company administration. The PPP-led government has failed to provide any relief to the workers and has bowed before the pressures of the international financial institutions and multinational companies.

The owners of the PTCL, who bought the company when it was privatized in 2005 by the then government, have subdued the ministers and their cronies in the PPP-led government.

However, the workers are determined to continue their strike amid serious economic pressure. The workers have formed a new association called the All-Pakistan NCPG Association. An organizing body has also been formed which include Ejaz Khan in charge of the body's committee, while Ghulam Mustafa, Zafar Mirza and Muzzamil Shah are its members.

The Union's Action Committee of the regular employees at PTCL is also giving complete support to these workers among which Malik Maqbool Hussain, Shaukat Ali Satti and comrade Kabir Khan are playing the key role.

The PTUDC has shown complete solidarity with these workers and is putting pressure on the government to accept the demands of the 8,740 strong workforce.

A big public meeting is being organized by the PTUDC today, Thursday 29th May at 5pm, at the PTCL Headquarters. In this meeting labour leaders from other trade unions and labour organization will show solidarity with the workers. Also student leaders of various student federations and leaders of unemployed youth will express their concern over this matter. A gathering of three to four thousand is expected which would include workers from various departments and industries, students and a large number of unemployed youth.

We appeal to the workers of the world to express solidarity with these workers who have put on a heroic struggle for the last 24 days and have given an example to the workers of other sections.

The victory of these workers will greatly influence the workers of the All-Pakistan Clerks Association, APCA, who are also protesting throughout the whole country against price hikes and low wages and have given an ultimatum for a strike in the first week of June. Also there are protests in the textile sector in Gujranwala and other cities, in the cement industry, of the teachers' unions in all four provinces, of the hospital workers in various cities, of civil aviation workers and other departments.

Also the PTUDC has put out a call for nationwide protests on June 2 against price hikes, unemployment and the reactionary policies of privatisation, downsizing and anti-labour laws, which is expected to draw large numbers of workers and youth. The PTUDC is also demanding permanent jobs for all government employees working on daily wages and the contract system.

A victory in any one sector will boost the confidence of the other workers and would pave the way for a mass movement that can lead to a socialist victory. We once again appeal to the workers of the world to express solidarity with these workers of PTCL that would raise this ongoing strike to new heights.

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