KARACHI, Dec 4: The People’s Unity was said to have defeated its rival union, Air League, by a big margin in direct contest to become the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) of the national flag carrier’s employees.

In the referendum, which was held on Thursday after a lapse of nearly a decade, 7,500 of about 9,000 eligible employees cast their votes. The People’s Unity, backed by the Pakistan People’s Party, was said to have polled more than 6,700 votes.

The Air League, backed by the PML-N, was the CBA until a coup by Gen Pervez Musharraf toppled the PML government in 1999.

The People’s Unity attained the convincing victory with the support of JI-backed PIAC Employees Union, MQM-backed United Workers Union, Pakhtun Labour Wing, Christian Employees Association, and other smaller unions while the Air League remained without the support of any other union in the referendum. The Air League had been expressing apprehensions about the referendum ever since the launch of the campaigning.