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.