HYDERABAD: Workers across Sindh took part in rallies and other programmes held in various cities to observe Labour Day and pay homage to the martyrs of Chicago who laid down their lives in 1886 for the rights of fellow workers.

In Hyderabad, various trade unions and their federations took out rallies and organised seminars to highlight the plight of those workers who are not getting their due wages, rights and privileges.

Speaking to the participants, leaders of various federations and trade unions strongly criticised privatisation of national assets, downsizing and rightsizing which they said were aimed at laying off workers in large numbers and depriving the remaining ones of their due wages, privileges and rights.

They discussed the issues like increasing influence of capitalist system, imposition of contract system, tactics to weaken strength of labour unions and other such steps being taken by employers.

The All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA) took out a rally from the Labour Hall to the local press club.The Muttahida Labour Federation held a seminar in its office to pay homage to the Chicago martyrs.

The PPP minority wing of Kotri taluka brought out a rally from the residence of PPP MPA Dr Sikandar Shoro to the local press club.

Home-based Women Workers Federation organised a rally from Hyder Chowk to the local press club. The Sindh Hari Porhiat Committee and Hyderabad district PPP-SB also took out separate rallies.

The Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Mazdoor Federation took out a rally from the STP House while another rally was taken out by the Awami Workers Party.

Rallies were also under the aegis of the All Pakistan Nadra Employees Union, Hyderabad, and Peoples Labour Bureau.

Railway Workers Union held a train march from Karachi Cantonment railway station to the Hyderabad railway station.

SUKKUR: Various labour organisations held programmes and took out rallies to mark May Day in many cities and towns of Sukkur, Jacobabad and Ghotki districts.

A big rally was taken out from the old Pir Jo Goth bus stand on the Workshop Road in Sukkur to the Clock Tower roundabout. It was led by leaders of the All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union.

Addressing the participants, Wapda-Sepco labour leaders highlighted the importance of the day and vowed to continue the struggle for all due rights of workers.

Another rally was taken out by employees of the Sukkur Municipal Corporation. The union of the Sukkur district council also held a rally.

The Railway Workers Union took out a rally from the Railway Sleeper Factory to the Sukkur press club.

Unions of the irrigation department, the Sui Southern Gas Corporation and Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation Limited (PTCL) organised separate rallies in Sukkur to express solidarity with labourers. A similar rally was taken out by the Sukkur district chapter of the Sunni Tehrik.

Speaking at a programme held to mark the Labour Day, special assistant to the chief minister Dr Arshad Mughal highlighted the role of the PPP in getting workers their rights from their respective organisations.

In Jacobabad, separate rallies were taken out by the Pakistan Sunni Tehrik, Sindh Peoples Labour Bureau, PPP-Shaheed Bhutto and All Rice Mills Manzdoor Union.

Hundreds of workers took part in scores of other rallies held in various cities and towns of Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Dadu, Jamshoro, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Kandhkot-Kashmore, Shikarpur, Nawabshah, Nausharo Feroze and other districts.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2016