ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: The Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union (CBA) has swept the referendum held in the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) at the national level.

Justice (retd) Rashid Aziz Khan, chairman National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC), here on Thursday announced the results of the referendum.

The referendum was held on Sept 12, but was challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC) by Wapda Employees Akhuwat Union. However, the LHC decided against the Akhuwat Union on Tuesday by dismissing their case.

According to the results, Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union got 73,382 votes while other contesting unions namely Pegham Union got 36,656 and Akhuwat obtained 2,407 votes, states an official announcement issued here.

The NIRC chairman also issued the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) certificate to the secretary-general of the victorious union amidst the presence of a large number of union workers.

The union’s general-secretary Abdul Latif Nizamani and regional chairman Mian Rehman Ghani were also present.

In a statement, the office-bearers of the union have congratulated all employees and workers of the Wapda for participating in the referendum peacefully.

They said the union would continue to work for the betterment and welfare of the employees and would make the management accept their genuine demands.

It is to mention here that in April 2003, the Pakistan Wapda Employees Pegham Union had also challenged the CBA status of the Pakistan Wapda Hydroelectric Central Labour Union.