RAWALPINDI: A day after the government enforced the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952, the management of Pakistan International Airlines has cancelled working agreements with all PIA employees associations, with the exception of the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA).

The step has been taken to allow the PIA to rescue, evacuate and repatriate Pakistanis and foreigners stranded in different countries.

In a notification issued by the PIA management, all employees associations, other than the CBA, have been de-recognised with immediate effect and for a period of six months.

The CBA is the sole constitutional body for representing and negotiating on behalf of the employees with the management.

The de-recognised associations include the Pakistan Airline Pilots Association, Senior Staff Association, Airline Technologists Association of Pakistan, Society of Aircraft Engi­neers of Pakistan and Pakistan Airline Cabin Crew Association.

These associations represent PIA employees only, and not the workers of other airlines.

The PIA management has proceeded with the de-recognition of these associations on account of operating imperatives and to bring the company out of the strangleholds of various groups attempting to create a shadow and or parallel management.

This is, however, with the assurance that these measures are not against the employees but simply to ensure smooth operations of the company, the notification said.

In this connection, individual letters have been written to the heads of the aforementioned associations, henceforth the only recognised body for negotiation would be the CBA which is legitimised under Section 19 of the Industrial Relations Act, 2012.

All matters brought forward by these associations will no longer be entertained; however, individual grievances, if any, would be considered and treated on merit.

Consequent upon the termination of agreements, appropriate admin orders have been issued separately.

The letters issued to the heads of the employees associations also state that all attempts have been made not to reduce the salary, allowances and other perks of employees.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2020