15 May 2006 -
Don't fly PIA

PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) has harassed trade unions for years. With the support of the Government of Pakistan it has used anti-union legislation to sack the General Secretary and Publicity Secretary of the ITF-affiliated Air League of PIA Employees and to snub dialogue with pilots. Six more union members were suspended for criticising the company’s attitude, followed by four more in March who had been giving out leaflets.

PIA workers are not the only Pakistanis to experience violations of their rights. Investigation by the ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) has found the following: “Restrictive legislation…many cases…in which union recognition was denied….hospital workers were reportedly tortured to make them resign from their union.” (Read the full report at the related link below).

To defend its affiliated union members the ITF took Pakistan to the International Labour Organization (ILO), which ruled that the government was violating trade union rights - a judgement which it has chosen to ignore (see related page linked at the bottom for history).