June 20, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 15, 1429

KARACHI, June 19: The Registrar of Trade Unions has cancelled registration of all trade unions in Pakistan Steel Mills, except the recently-elected People’s Workers Union which is the collective bargaining agent in Pakistan Steel.

According to sources, the solitary surviving trade union is backed by Pakistan People’s Party which polled 4,065 votes, out of 5321 votes. Its rival United Workers’ Front, backed by the Mutahida Quaimi Movement, polled only 654 votes, and lost its registration.

Similarly, eight other unions lost their registration as they participated in the referendum and polled less than 15 per cent votes, attracting an Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO) clause that provides that a union which polls less than 15 per cent votes in the referendum loses its registration.

The unions against whom action has been taken are: United Workers Front, Employees Unity of Pakistan Steel, Pakistan Steel Democratic Front, Labour League of Pakistan Steel, Pakistan Steel Progressive Workers Union, Pakistan Steel Staff and Workers Union, People’s Unity of Pakistan Steel and Pakistan Steel Mazdoor League.

The registration of Pakistan Steel Labour Union (Paslu) was not cancelled by the labour department as it is registered with the federal government, but information about its performance has been sent to the department concerned with the recommendations that its registration, too, be cancelled.

Sindh labour director Kashif Gulzar said that the registration of Paslu is expected to be cancelled by the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) in a day or two.