By Khalid Bhatti 29/05/2005
Management is not serious to solve the dispute
The strike of PTCL workers has entered in 5th day, as negotiations have failed once again.
The management is just playing hide and seek with union leaders. The management has adopted the strategy to tire out the strike to engage the unions in endless and meaningless negotiations. Now the government has deployed the paramilitary forces in all the installations of PTCL. The police have also started the intimidation of most active activists of different unions. The police conducted the raids at the homes of regional leaders. The management and government want to force the union leaders to accept the privatization plan and sign an agreement with the management. The unions have refused to do. It is now clear that government want to use the force to crush and defeat the strike.
But it is not an easy solution for the government. The attack on striking workers can triggered into the complete shut down of the telecommunication systems, which will not only affect the line phones but also the mobile phones, internet and government phone lines. The military led government wants to show the other unions that they can not force her to accept the demands to just go on the strike. The government does not want to show any weakness to the working class. So that’s why, the government is not making any agreement with the unions.
Morale of the Workers
The workers are ready to face the state repression and crack down. The workers are saying that will drop all the demands, but will not accept privatization. The workers has already started to form the committees on local level to defend themselves against state repression and arrests. They are also collecting the funds for bails and legal battles. The mood is very militant and radical. They want to fight this decisive battle to the end.
This strike is the biggest challenge and resistance to the privatization plan of the Musharaf regime. This strike is also the biggest industrial battle against the present regime after the 2002 general elections. The struggle has also become a inspiration for the many public sector workers and unions.
The telecom workers have refused to accept the management’s proposal to call of the strike to get financial benefits. The management offered them 20% increase in the wages and some other concessions in the case if unions call off the strike. The workers have unanimously rejected the offer.
The question of solidarity has become very important in this situation. The solidarity messages send by different unions, political parties and youth organizations affiliated with CWI has a big effect on the morale of the workers. The solidarity campaign launched by TURCP in Pakistan has also picked up the momentum. All the main unions
And workers organizations have announced their support for this strike. Next 24 hours will be very crucial and will decide the fate of this strike.