HYDERABAD, May 27: The workers of Hyderabad, Latifabad and Qasimabad taluka councils, at a joint meeting held here on Sunday, expressed concern over the alleged interference of the Latifabad taluka administration in the affairs of workers’ union.

The meeting observed that although the referendum to determine the Collective Bargaining Agent for the Latifabad Taluka Council was being held after a delay of five months, the taluka administration was trying to provide protection to the pocket unions and also to postpone the referendum.

It warned that if the referendum, scheduled to be held on May 30, was postponed, the workers of the three taluka councils would stage a protest and the responsibility for the consequences would squarely rest on the shoulders of the registrar of the Hyderabad Trade Union and Latifabad taluka municipal administration.

The meeting also criticized the registrar of the trade union for allegedly violating the law by excluding a large number of workers from the union and for registering two trade unions.

It accused the municipal administration of Latifabad taluka of violating the law and rules.

The general secretary of the Muttahida Labour Federation of Pakistan, Qamoos Gul Khattak, presided over the meeting.

district council: A five-day session of the Hyderabad District Council began here on Monday.

The members of the council disagreed with the chair when he gave his ruling for the confirmation of the minutes of the April 29 meeting.

Rana Mehmood Ali Khan said the meeting, called to discuss the presidential referendum, was illegal for it was a non-political forum.

Ms Shahnaz Baqi asked the chair to delete the words, attributed to her in the minutes, that she had supported the referendum.

The session was adjourned for Tuesday when the EDO (health) would appear before the council and respond to the queries of of the members.