Escort Meter’s (Pvt) Ltd. is a large industry, manufacturing electric meters. It employs about 1000 workers. There were two unions, o­ne is Escort Meter Workers Union Affiliated with All Pakistan Trade Union Federation and the other is Employees Union which is pro management. According to the Industrial Relation Ordinance it is obligatory to hold referendum (election) among the unions for the determination of Collective Bargaining Agent Union. So o­n 23 March 2005, among the two unions a referendum was held by secret ballot under the supervision of Registrar of Trade Unions, Lahore. The Workers Union got majority of the votes and won the referendum and pro management union was defeated badly although the bosses had launched a campaign and had spent a lot of money to win the election.

The other referendum for the determination of Collective Bargaining Agent was held in a factory named Capital Industries (Pvt) Ltd, manufacturing cycles, employing 600 workers including office staff. There are three unions in the factory, o­ne union name Capital Industries Workers Union Affiliated with All Pakistan Trade Union federation and other two unions, Staff Union and Employees Union. Both unions are yellow unions. The referendum was held o­n April 7, 2005 under the supervision of Registrar Trade Union by the secret ballot. The majority of votes were obtained by the Workers Union, which is affiliated, with All Pakistan Trade Union Federation and it was declared Collective Bargaining Agent.

Workers got great victory. This victory has encouraged the working class of the area and the winning union representatives determined to struggle for dignity, fair wages, better working environment and social justice. It is not a victory of Pakistani working class, it is a victory of millions of workers around the globe. In Industrial Areas, workers gathered around the factories early in the morning, a great enthusiasm seen not o­nly among the workers but also the surrounding shopkeepers and general people.

Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhary, General Secretary All Pakistan Trade Union Federation, spoke o­n this occasion and congratulated the workers and office bearers for the great lead in referendum. They also said that dedication and hard work of the workers let down the management and now a new era is started in which workers will get the fair wages, dignity, respect and all the basic rights. Speakers further described that even though the management of the factory used a lot of money and put hurdles to defeat the genuine union (workers union), but workers’ power let down the management.

So lets celebrate the victory together, this victory will spark a movement of more workers fighting for improved wages and working conditions.

Unity is Power!

In Solidarity

Nasir Chaudhary,

Secretary Press & Publication

All Pakistan Trade Union Federation

14-N, Industrial Area, Gulberg, Lahore, Pakistan

Tel # 92- 42-5755078/5755079

Fax # 92-42-6665301

Email: aptuf@brain.net.pk