CDA Administration Urged to Immediately Hold Meeting with Employees’ Elected CBA Union; Workers Warn of Strike Against Privatization Move
Islamabad (Staff Reporter):
The CDA Labour Union (CBA) organized a strong protest demonstration outside the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Headquarters against the proposed privatization of the Sanitation Directorate. The protest was attended by CDA Labour Union General Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen, President Aurangzeb Khan, Chairman Raja Shakir Zaman Kiani, Supreme Head Mirza Saeed Akhtar, Haji Sabir, labour leader Sufi Mahmood Ali, Muhammad Asim Malik, Azhar Khan Tanoli, Izhar Abbasi, Malik Dilshad, Waris Dileep, Tariq Sharif, Saleem Bhatti, Ilyas Tufail, Kaleemullah Zamri, Ashfaq Gujjar, Farooq Noor, Yaqoob Khan, Sardar Ikhlaq, Chaudhry Shahid Iqbal, Zahid Bhatti, Tashkeel Javed, representatives of CBA committees, and thousands of workers.
The protesters raised strong slogans against privatization and demanded protection of employees’ rights.
Addressing the demonstration, CDA Labour Union (CBA) General Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen, President Aurangzeb Khan, and other labour leaders said that the CDA Labour Union is the genuine representative organization of CDA employees, having secured victory in the referendum for the fifth consecutive time and being recognized as the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) under the IRA-2012 Act of the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC).
They stated that the Labour Union is the largest stakeholder representing CDA employees and would protect workers’ rights at every cost. They emphasized that sanitation workers play a vital role in keeping Islamabad clean, green, and beautiful, which has helped the federal capital gain recognition among the world’s clean and attractive cities.
The labour leaders expressed concern that these same workers were now facing the threat of unemployment in the name of privatization, which they termed unacceptable.
They demanded that instead of privatizing the Sanitation Directorate and other departments, the CDA should provide modern machinery, vehicles, equipment, and adequate manpower to improve cleanliness and public service systems. They said privatization was not a solution to existing challenges and could negatively affect thousands of families as well as the institution’s performance.
The leaders further stated that the CDA Labour Union has always believed in negotiations and mutual understanding, but this approach should not be considered a weakness. They urged the administration to avoid decisions that could create unrest among workers, especially during a period when political and economic stability is essential.
They demanded that the CDA Chairman and administration immediately hold negotiations with the elected employees’ union, withdraw the decision to privatize the Sanitation Directorate and other departments, implement court decisions regarding the allocation of plots to employees, and ensure immediate payment of pending dues, including Eid allowance and Easter allowance.
The union leaders warned that if the legitimate demands of employees were not accepted, the CDA Labour Union would be forced to announce a complete strike, which could disrupt the administrative system of the federal capital. They stated that any damage to industrial peace in the city would be the responsibility of the CDA administration.