[Reader-list] Fwd: [PR] 5, 000 Ship Breaking Workers strike in Gadani Balochistan

[يا سر ~ ɹısɐʎ]

From: <ntufpak at gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 11:04 PM



15,000 workers of ship breaking site at Gadani( Balochistan) are going on
all out strike from Tuesday 15th June for indefinite period.

The Gadani Ship Breaking Democratic Workers Union representing one of
strongest militant workers contingent has given a legal strike notice on
Saturday, 12 June to more than 40 owners of ship breaking sites with demands
to raise the daily wages, medical cover, adequate occupational safety
measure and betterment in severe working conditions. The time period (three
days in legal term) of strike notice from the union is ended tonight and now
workers have no choice but to go on strike to press for their just demands.

It was one and half year ago when owners negotiated with workers
representatives and accepted some demands of the workers but now they
haven't been in mood to come in term with workers demands. It is interesting
to note that there is boom in ship breaking sector with huge profit since
last agreement but workers have not being paid fairly out of this bumper
profit. Workers of ship breaking are paid very low( 6000 to 7500 pak rupees
monthly) with long working hours stretched from 10 to 15 hours and they have
to work in very hazardous and dangerous conditions without any precautionary
and safety measures. No proper canteen and residence for the ship breaking
workers.

There is no properly equipped hospital to cater the immediate needs of
workers in case of emergency and accident at work place, workers are not
cover under any health and security nets. Due to these working environment
17 workers have been died during the work with in one year with out any
compensation from government or ship breaking companies.
Due to all these condition their was great panic among workers and they have
been forcing the union to start negotiation with employers on their basic
demands but employers and managements are least bother about the demand and
have not given any wait and serious thought to meet the demand or even start
negotiation with workers' representatives till filling of this report. They
just requested to postpone the strike for day which was rejected by the
union leaders with whole heartily consent of the workers.
Now workers are in very defiant and militant mood and their leader told me
half an hour ago that complete strike will be observed from 7am tomorrow
till acceptance of their demands such as
#* raise in wages
#*proper medical facilities
#* adequate safety measures at workplace
#*batter working conditions

All friends of workers are requested to come forward and stand up with them.

Nasir Mansoor
Deputy General Secretary
National Trade Union Federation,Pakistan
+923003587211
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone using my Telenor Persona connection

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