Over 250,000 textile workers in, Faisalabad, Pakistan’s third largest city, won a complete victory on July 29 after a nine-day strike. Their chief demand was the implementation of a decision to increase wages by 17 percent – one of the tenets of the National Labour Policy that was unveiled in June this year.

Often referred to as “Pakistan’s Manchester”, Faisalabad hosts a large portion of the country’s textile industry. The call for the strike was issued by the Labour National Movement (LQM), which to began to organize textile workers nearly ten years ago. From the LQM platform, the textile workers have successfully organized dozens of industrial actions, including strikes.

On July 20, as the workers in Faisalabad went on strike, their bosses opted for thug violence. LQM leaders were roughed up, one received bullet injuries. Enraged workers then set a factory on fire. Unfortunately, two Christian brothers were gunned down by religious fanatics on the eve of the strike. Seizing the opportunity, local authorities announced a ban on public meetings and rallies on the pretext of ensuring law and order.

To lend their bosses a helping hand, police picked up four LQM leaders. But these tactics failed to thwart the strike or intimidate the workers. They began to hold rallies. A few bosses gave in and accepted their demands and in these factories, workers went back to work. This was partial victory that only encouraged others and rallies began to grow in size. On July 29, 25,000 workers from all over the town marched on to the office of Faisalabad Commissioner (the top bureaucrat). The workers were adamant that they would not budge until their demands were met. This show of power proved to be the final straw. After a meeting with the city’s factory bosses, the commissioner announced that all workers’ demands would be met.

The Faisalabad victory came on the heels of strike victory on July 21 in neighboring Jhang. After 17 days of strike by over 20,000 power loom workers in Jhang, their bosses agreed to grant them social security cards. This action was also organized by LQM. Only 2.1 million Pakistani workers out of 47 million have secured social security cards. That is less than four percent of the total.

By law, every worker must be issued a social security card, however many bosses never register their workforce with the Social Security Department. Most factory owners pay for a very few workers while the rest remain at their mercy. Why is this so? Simply because bosses are required to pay at least seven percent of each worker’s total wages into the social security system. Also issuing of social security cards confirms workers legally that they are employed by the concerned boss. Otherwise, a majority of private sector workers cannot even prove that they are employed in any factory. As a result of LQM struggle, 100,000 workers in Faisalabad had got security cards (which entitles workers to health facilities, schooling for children, pension etc). Inspired by the success in Faisalabad, workers in Jhang also began to organize on the LQM platform. Jhang is a district notorious for the birth of a violent religious outfit Sipah e Sahaba , associated with al-Qaida. This area has been in the grip of fundamentalists and after decades, workers were unionized. Unionisation in Pakistan, like many third world countries, is a risky affair. Bosses often resort to bloody violence while state institutions often favour the bosses. On Jul 6, LQM leader Mustansar Randhawa was killed in Faisalabad along with his brother at LQM office. It is not sure who was behind the murder but he was gunned down just as the LQM was busy negotiating with the bosses. The gunned down unionist was also a member of Labour Party Pakistan and was planning to contest by-election in the area. It could be a personal enmity or political rivalry. Nobody has been arrested yet.

Riaz ul Hassan