The Pakistani government cracked down on Power Loom workers and unions in Toba Tek Singh who were striking to demand raises in pays so that their pays were the same as workers in Faisabad. 27 workers were arrested.

26 powers looms workers arrested today by Gojra police in district Toba Tek Sing, Pakistan. They include Mian Abdul Qayum chairman and the local leadership of Labour Quomi Movement, the power looms workers union. Police have arrested them on charges of violating section 144.

The local police has registered another case against 30 more activists and leaders of different unions. It include Farooq Tariq, general secretary Labour Party Pakistan, Mohammed Yousaf Baluch, chairman National Trade Union Federation, Mehmood Butt, general secretary Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union, and Saif Cheema, the local leader of the union and a senior advocate.

They all spoke to a public meeting of the power looms workers last night (2nd August) at Gojra and gave full support to the striking workers. The Gojra police had banned the public meeting but the meeting took place at supporters’ lawn. Over 1000 attended the meeting.

Over 3000 power looms textile workers were on strike for a month. They were demanding the same wages as of Faisalabad. Faisalabad is the third largest city of Pakistan and hub city of textile industry. Faisalabad is only 45 minutes drive away from Gojra. The Gojra workers were getting at least 50 percent less than their counterparts in Faisalabad. There had been no wage increase for the last eighteen months. This was the first strike action by the workers.

During one month, several workers were beaten up by the gangsters of the power looms bosses. Police took away their striking camp late at night on 31st July. The police was demanding that strike must end and workers must not get together.

Only Awami Jamhoori Tehrik, the alliance of the left parties in Pakistan, gave the workers full support and helped to strengthen the strike action. They visited the camp and asked the Labour Qaumi Movement in Faisalabad to help the workers.

The public meeting on 2nd August was the high point of the movement. Farooq Tariq, as one of the main speakers criticized the local police for their high handedness and asked the local administration to side with the workers. He also asked the workers to set up the strike camp again, the camp that was taken away by force by police. On 3rd August, over 300 workers got together to set up the strike camp but police arrested 26 of them and close down the main gate of the police station. All the workers were ready to be arrested.

The workers have anyhow set up a camp in defiance of the police harassment and arrests. They are sitting at the camp. The strike is spreading to other areas. On 5th August, over 110 workers more were arrested but later released in the evening. Thye were protesting against the arrests and the case registered against the 27 arrested.

Pakistani labor groups are demanding justice against unfair wages and working conditions and the environment of repression makes it hard to negotiate. Please send your protest letters to the following a copy of the letter to this email.
President General Pervaiz Musharaf
Minister Interior Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Room#404, 4th Floor, R Block, Pak Secretariat, Islamabad (Pakistan), Tele : 051 9212026, Fax: 051 9202624

Secretary Ministry Labour and Power, Name Malik Asif Hayat, Address : 5th Floor,B Block, Pak Secretariat, Islamabad, Tel Office : +92-51-9213686,+92-51-9202919 Residence : +92-51-9222357, Fax : +92-51-9203462, Address : House # 5, St # 58, F-7/4, Islamabad, E Mail : secretary@molm.gov.pk

For more information, contact Farooq Tariq, general secretary, Labour Party Pakistan, 40-Abbot Road Lahore, Pakistan Tel: 92 42 6315162 Fax: 92 42 6271149 Mobile: 92 300 8411945, labourpartypk@yahoo.com www.laborpakistan.org www.jeddojuhd.com

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