Photonews Logo Photonews logo
  • Home
  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Azad Jammu Kashmir
    • Balochistan
    • Gilgit – Baltistan
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
    IShowSpeed Daniel La Belle race
    Videos

    IShowSpeed Beats Daniel La Belle in 40-Meter Race, Hits 41M Subscribers

    June 24, 2025 2 Min Read
    Cardi B new single Outside
    Videos

    Cardi B’s ‘Outside’ Single Sparks Buzz Over Offset and Stefon Diggs

    June 20, 2025 2 Min Read
    Squid Game Season 3
    Videos

    Squid Game Season 3: Final Trailer Unveils Epic Plot

    June 14, 2025 2 Min Read
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Offbeat
  • Blog
  • Contact
Reading: Privatization woes: PIA staff to go on strike from tommorow
PhotoNews Pakistan PhotoNews Pakistan
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Balochistan
    • Azad Jammu Kashmir
    • Gilgit – Baltistan
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Offbeat
  • Blog
  • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Photonews. All Rights Reserved.
PhotoNews Pakistan > Top News > Privatization woes: PIA staff to go on strike from tommorow
Top News

Privatization woes: PIA staff to go on strike from tommorow

Web Desk
By Web Desk Published February 1, 2016 4 Min Read
Share
SHARE
The employees of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have decided to go on strike on February 2 after their talks with the government collapsed.
The impending protest might result in cancellation of all flights and blockade of airports around the country.

The announcement came yesterday following last-minute negotiations between PIA’s union leaders and government officials that saw emotions running high and one of the key labour leaders breaking down in tears before a news conference.

“We hope the government will come to the negotiating table in the coming days as we are ready to reach an amicable solution,” said Sohail Baloch, the president of the Joint Action Committee of PIA Employees. “We sincerely apologise to passengers but this is something we are doing to save the national flag carrier.”

The labour leaders took the decision after the government refused to commit to keeping PIA as a completely government-run organisation. The ruling PML-N has already introduced a controversial law to convert the airline into a public limited company.

But on January 29, the government announced putting off PIA’s sell-off for six months and requested the workers to end their protest. The employees have been taking out rallies almost daily for the past 55 days when the agitation first began against planned privatisation.

If the strike goes through, the employees will walk away from all departments at 7am on Tuesday. Until now the union-led staff has staged small protests, affecting just the back office work. Though PIA’s own ticketing offices were shut for a few days, it did not impact ticket sales, which are mostly booked through travel agents.

Last Friday, government representatives, including PML-N’s Mushahidullah Khan, met PIA union leaders in a last-ditch effort to find a way out of the deadlock. But the meeting remained inconclusive.

Even though Mushahid, who also heads the Senate Special Committee on PIA, told a news conference the sell-off date has been extended, he could not pacify the unions, which want withdrawal of the privatisation bill and revision of Pakistan’s liberal aviation policy.

At the same news conference, however, the senator warned the government could invoke the Essential Services Act of 1952, which will make any labour union activity illegal.

Nasir Janjua, the general secretary of the Collective Bargaining Agent, who met Mushahid on behalf of the unions, regretted his own political party was threatening them with using a law abused by dictators. “It was a sad day for me,” recalled Janjua, who belongs to PML-N’s trade union wing. “It came from a man who held rallies against Pervez Musharraf.”

The PIA unions are also in talks with lawyers to pre-empt the use of the Essential Services Act by moving the Supreme Court.

Moments before Sunday’s news conference, Sohail had barged out of an internal meeting of the union leaders sobbing incessantly. “There is a lot of pressure from the government to back off but it’s too late,” he told the media. “There are thousands of employees who earn Rs14,000 to Rs30,000 and they are all looking up to us.”

Read : Govt halts process to find strategic partner for PIA

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

Pakistan PTV Fee

Pakistan to Scrap Rs35 PTV Fee, Offering Relief to Electricity Consumers

Pakistan Earthquake 2025

Pakistan Hit by Third Earthquake in 24 Hours: Magnitude 3.8 Reported

Trump Netanyahu Corruption

Trump Opposes Netanyahu’s Corruption Prosecution, Citing U.S. Support for Israel

Humanoid Robots Football

Humanoid Robots Play Football in Beijing: A Glimpse into AI Innovation

Trump Big Beautiful Bill

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Advances in Senate: Key Provisions Explained

Post Archives

More Popular from Photonews

PTI Imran Khan release
Pakistan

Imran Khan’s Solitary Confinement in Adiala Jail KP MPAs’ Call for Protest

3 Min Read
Pakistan default risk 2025
Business

Pakistan Leads Global Decline in Sovereign Default Risk, Bloomberg Reports

2 Min Read
Sony lawsuit PlayStation pricing
Tech

Sony Faces Class Action Lawsuit in Netherlands Over PlayStation Digital Pricing

2 Min Read
Top NewsWorld

IAEA Reports No Radiation Leak in Iran, Offers Mediation After U.S. Strikes

On June 22, 2025, the IAEA confirmed no off-site radiation increase following U.S. strikes on Iran’s…

June 23, 2025
Top NewsWorld

Trump Denies Iran Moved Enriched Uranium Before U.S. Strikes, Claims Success

President Donald Trump dismissed reports suggesting Iran relocated 400 kilograms of enriched uranium before U.S. airstrikes…

June 26, 2025
Offbeat

Oakland Man Arrested for Stealing $10,000 in Nintendo Switch Games from Libraries

On June 17, 2025, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of an Oakland, California,…

June 25, 2025
Entertainment

28 Years Later Ending Sparks Debate with Power Rangers-Style Twist

The horror sequel *28 Years Later*, released in 2025, has sparked intense discussions among fans due…

June 24, 2025
PhotoNews Pakistan

Always Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Categories

  • World
  • Pakistan
  • Punjab
  • Sindh
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  • Balochistan
  • Azad Jammu Kashmir

 

  • Top News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Offbeat
  • Blog

© 2024 Phototnews
All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?