Bhatta Workers Strike to continue, March on Governor House planned

National Convention on 26th April in Lahore to decide the future course of action

On 6th day of the national strike of brick kiln workers, the unions leadership take important decisions, Struggle to continue till the demands are not met.

Lahore (PR): Memhood Ahmed Butt, national secretary Bhatta Mazdoor Union, said today (Sunday) the nation wide strike of brick kiln workers will continue till our demands are met. If our demands are not met, we will march on the Governor House of Lahore, he added. He was speaking at a Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union meeting held at the union office with central union president Mohammed Younas Rahoo in the chair.

The meeting was held to review the strike action and decide the future course of action. Brick kiln workers are on national strike for the implementation of the court decisions for the abolition of the Peshgi (advance) system. The union is also striking for an increase in payment. The union demands Rupees 500 as wage for 1000 bricks. They are also demanding the registration of the Bhattas.

The meeting demanded the immediate and unconditional implementation on the Supreme Court and Federal Shariat Court historic decisions regarding abolition of the Peshgi system besides an end to bonded labour at the Bhattas. They demanded an end of the humiliation of Bhatta women workers at the hands of the bosses and withdrawal of all the fake cases against Bhatta workers on the behest of the bosses during the strike that began 18th April.

The meeting decided to hold a national convention of brick kiln workers on 26th April in Lahore to review the strike action and decide the further course of action. The meeting will discuss the possibilities of marching on the governor house if the demands are not met this week. The union leadership was satisfied with the growing numbers of area that are becoming part of the strike and strike is spreading to different all parts of the country.

The meeting also demanded that provincial labour secretary Punjab government should do his best on the implementation of all the agreed matters during the meeting with union leaders held on 20th April in Lahore labour secretariat.

Farooq Tariq general secretary Labour Party Pakistan, Yousaf Baluch chairman National Trade Union federation and Moeen Nawaz Punno president National Trade Union Federatrion Punjab also participated in the union meeting to express their solidarity with the union strike.