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Two year campaign pays off as Pakistan government lifts trade union ban

11 August 2008

Title

A two year campaign by global trade union federation the ITF has triumphantly paid off with the news that the Pakistani government has withdrawn legislation banning workers at PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) from joining a union.

The ITF acted to protect workers in Pakistan who were coming under government attack and being sacked and suspended by PIA. After taking the government to the ILO (International Labour Organization), which found its actions illegal – as did the country’s Supreme Court - the ITF, working with its union colleagues in Pakistan, launched the Don’t Fly PIA campaign. That campaign has now secured its objectives, following the decision by the Upper House of Parliament, which unanimously passed a bill to lift the ban on trade union activities at PIA. According to the Associated Press of Pakistan this is the first repeal of a bill since 2001.

ITF General Secretary David Cockroft commented: “Two years ago we responded to pleas for help from our colleagues in Pakistan, and launched a campaign to secure their basic right to join a union without fear of intimidation. When diplomacy, demonstrations and appeals failed and findings against the government were brushed aside, we took the extremely serious step of launching a boycott. At last those efforts have been rewarded and we can call off the campaign.”

The actions against the PIA’s then government-supported attacks on trade unionists won support from trade unionists around the world and involved demonstrations in Bradford, London and in Pakistan, as well as meetings with officials, the consumer boycott and support from trade unions worldwide.

ENDS

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org

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