10 Days Strike Force the Government to retreat
PTCL Privatization Postponed for indefinite period
The government has announced to postpone the privatization of PTCL for indefinite period, to end the 10 day long strike of telecom workers. The government and PTCL
Trade unions action committee has signed the agreement today, after 4days marathon negotiations. This is the first victory against the privatization in Pakistan in last 15 years.
This is also the longest strike in public sector in last 36 years. The government has announced to cancel the bidding of PTCL, scheduled for 10th June. The management
Has also accepted the other 27 demands put forward by action committee.
This victory clearly shows that even impossible can be achieved through workers unity,
Struggle, determination and courage to face all the odds to get victory. Despite all the threats, harassment, intimidations from the state, the telecom workers showed their courage, determination, will and revolutionary zeal to defeat the privatization.
The agreement was signed by the secretary interior, secretary It&t and secretary privatization& investment (the highest level government officials) and 10 members
Of action committee. According to this agreement “the government representatives and
Trade unions action committee has successfully concluded the negotiations in very cordial atmosphere on the basis of following terms,
1- The privatization of PTCL postpone for indefinite period.
2- The action committee calls off the strike.
3- No victimization and action against the strike leaders and workers.
4- All 28 demands are accepted and unions will start negotiations with management on the implementation of these demands.
5- The privatization commission will share all the information with unions and continue negotiations with them, no further step will be taken on privatization without the consultation of unions.
This victory is a big inspiration for all the public sector workers and unions. The celebrations have already started throughout the country.
The Impact of International campaign
The unions action committee has issued a official statement to thanks the TURCP and all the unions, political parties, individuals and specially Committee for a Workers International (CWI) for its support. When the leaders of action committee thanks the TURCP and Socialist Movement for its key role in this struggle, the 4000 workers cheered and chanted slogans of workers unity and long live TURCP. The workers also made phone calls in the center to congratulate the leadership of TURCP.
The International campaign played very important role in this victory. The management and government officials told the union leaders that they never experience such situation, in which so many unions and political parties send messages of support and protest.
They also said that TURCP made this struggle not only national campaign but also an international campaign. I never feel such pressure before said president PTCL, so many emails and protests.