Action Alert: Civil aviation in Pakistan
Dear Affiliates
This is to inform you that our colleagues who work in the civil aviation industry in Pakistan are particularly suffering from anti union attacks by their government and their employers in the industry.
As a result of the Pakistan government’s imposition of Chief Executive Order No.6 2001 which suspended all unions and working agreements by the management in Pakistan International Airlines, the ITF lodged a complaint with the International Labour Office in November 2003 against the Pakistan government for pursuing anti union legislation. The complaint was subsequently upheld by the Committee on Freedom of Association, which recommended a number of courses of action for the Pakistan government to take, in order to address the violations of Articles 2 and 3 of Convention 87 and Article 4 of Convention 98.
Despite the ruling from the International Labour Organisation that the legislation violated the right to freedom of association in Pakistan, this Order continues to exist. Clearly, the Pakistan government is in complete breach of the ILO ruling and recommendations.
This intolerable situation means that our members in Pakistan continue to suffer.
1. The Air League of PIAC Employees which represents cabin crew now have two of their union officials dismissed for their trade union activities.
2. The Pakistan Airline Pilots Association is now in dispute with the company as a direct result of the Order which suspended all unions and working agreements in PIA. Their working conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that they are no longer co-operating with the company and there have subsequently been flight disruptions.
3. These cases follow on from the previous case of victimisation of the General Secretary of the Shaheen Airport Services Hard Workers Union, reported to the ITF by the Foreign Airline Workers Association.
These violations of international trade union rights are a direct result of the current Pakistan government’s anti trade practices. Not only does it persist in keeping anti- union legislation on its statute books, but also even where its own judiciary such as the Supreme Court rules in favour of more equal working practices, it does not intervene if abuses continue. Company management such as at PIAC, subsequently take their lead from the government and continue to ignore legal requirements such as that female cabin crew should not have to retire at 45 years of age.
We are now calling on all our affiliates in civil aviation to support our affiliates in Pakistan by sending a letter of protest to the company and to the government. A draft text has been provided below which may assist you.
Please email both letters to Nazeer Tahir of People’s Unity of PIA as we have had problems getting through to the President and PIA by fax, and he will forward the letters on. His email address is tfam2k@yahoo.com. You can also try emailing PIA on chrpiac@piac.com.pk.
