On 11^th April, the Bhatta bosses did not turn up for a scheduled meeting with the strikers’ union leaders. The meeting was organized by the district administration and it was the second time that the bosses failed to show up. They are stalling for time, hoping to starve the workers into submission.

Addressing a press conference on 11^th April at Moro press Club, Younas Rahu, national president of the kiln workers union, threatened to go on hunger strike until death alongside hundreds of workers.

In the meantime, the bosses have used police to harass the main leaders of the union. On 7^th April, a false police case was registered against Younas Rahu, Shabir Sagar and five others. The allegations were that they had injured some college students, which is a completely trumped-up charge.There was a dispute at the college but Younas and the union had nothing to do with that.

Police raided houses of Younas and Shabir on 8^th April but both escaped the arrest. A national campaign was immediately started to put pressure on the local police chief. Hundreds of SMS and telephone calls were made to District Police Officer’s (DPO) mobile number. The DPO promised not to take any action against the union leaders.

Harassment stopped in the afternoon after this immediate pressure put up by Labour Party Pakistan supporters and union leaders across Pakistan.

The Bhatta workers are demanding an end of bonded labour and better wages. Over 10,000 workers are taking part in this first strike in the district. The strike is limited to one district only but it is already making news across the whole province.

Earlier on 31^st March 2007, hundreds of Bhatta workers marched out of their factories to join a rally at the main road of district Neshro Feroz. The main road was blocked for over two hours by this rally. This was the beginning of the first strike in the district. Addressing the rally, Younas said that “we can not live on a hundred rupees a day ($1.80) while the bosses earn hundred time more. We demand at least Rupees 350 for making 1000 bricks and not 110 to 190, the rate that is given at present.” He said that we are totally against bonded labour and we want no more slave labour at the Bhattas.

Please help the union to win the fight

Please send your message of protest to

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Neshro Feroz

Mr. Nazar Mohammed Kalhoro

Fax: 00 92 242448881

Send an sms also to 00 92 3002515475

Please send a copy to the union email

bhattunion yahoo.com

An article written at the beginning of the dispute for back ground information

Bhatta workers strike in Sindh

While the political turmoil and movement against the military regime is getting all the attention inside and outside Pakistan, a Bhatta workers strike in Nesher Feroz district of Sindh is getting little attention from the media.

Since 31^st March 2007, over 10,000 workers from 39 Bhattas are on strike in Neshero Feroz. They are demanding higher wages, an end to bonded labour and registration of the Bhattas and hence social security cards for the workers.

Led by Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union, the workers have set up strike camp at Nesher Feroz city. The bosses have so for not responded positively. Today on 3^rd April, the bosses have threatened the main leaders of the union including Younas Raho central president of the union.

Younas Rahu is a resident of Moro which in district Neshero Feroz. He is ling time trade union activist and was elected national president of the Bhatta Mazdfoor Union two years earlier. He is also secretary Labour Party Pakistan Sindh chapter.

Younas rahu told me today on telephone that it is a solid strike and may be it is the first experience of the workers to go on this strike for four days already. There is no work on any of the Bhattas in the district; it is estimate that over 10,000 workers are taking part in the strike. Younas Rahu said that the workers are demanding that their wages should be increased from 190-200 Rupees for making 1000 bricks to Rupees 350.

They are demanding an immediate implementation of the bonded labour abolition act 1992. The bonded labour still continues in the district despite all the decisions of the courts and government against it. The Peshgi system makes most of the workers bonded and they can not leave the Bhatta until they pay the Peshgi.

Pakistan Bhata Mazdoor Union has also led a national strike during April 2006 in most part of Pakistan making the Peshgi a national issue.

The union need your help, please send letter of protest to the Sind government.
Labour minister Muhammad Adil Siddiqui telephone 9211980-9211463
Secretary Labour, Transport & Industries

email secy.labour sindh.gov.pk

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