There will be no compromise on workers’ rights. – Aurangzeb Khan
Address by leaders of the Mazdoor Union at the protest gathering held outside the CDA Chairman’s Office.
Despite clear orders from the honourable Supreme Court and honourable Islamabad High Court, the CDA administration is still not holding the balloting of employees’ plots, which has caused deep unrest amongst the staff. The CDA Mazdoor Union believes in dialogue and is willing to negotiate with the administration on the issue of plots, but if the balloting is not held by September 26, the Union will launch a protest movement at the directorate level.
These views were expressed by CDA Mazdoor Union General Secretary Chaudhary Muhammad Yaseen while addressing a protest gathering outside the Chairman’s Office, which was attended by thousands of employees from all CDA directorates.
Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen said that Islamabad, which is a beautiful city of international standard, has been built with the blood and sweat of CDA employees. Unfortunately, despite court decisions, these employees are still being deprived of their basic right to plots. The CDA Mazdoor Union is the representative body of the institution, elected for the fifth time, and during its tenure has secured countless benefits for CDA staff.
In 2006, thousands of plots were allotted to CDA employees and approval was obtained for another 4,000 plots. The date for balloting was fixed on April 30, 2011, but our opponents obtained stay order from the court. Now, after 14 years, once again a decision has come in favour of the workers, yet the CDA administration, despite clear directions from the honourable Supreme Court and honourable Islamabad High Court, has failed to allot plots to CDA employees and is showing complete indifference. As a result, thousands of employees have been compelled to protest today.
He further said that CDA employees are the backbone of the institution’s progress and the construction of Islamabad, but constant hurdles are being placed in the way of their rights. Therefore, we demand from the CDA Chairman, Board members and its administration that in line with court orders and the agreements made with the Mazdoor Union, plots be allotted to employees without delay and their other demands be also addressed immediately.
On this occasion, the employees present at the protest raised slogans for the allotment of plots and assured their leader Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen that they will stand shoulder to shoulder with him in whatever course of action he announces for securing their plots.
The protest was also addressed by Mazdoor Union President Aurangzeb Khan, Raja Shakir Zaman Kayani, Haji Sabir, Mirza Saeed Akhtar, Malik Asim, Izhar Abbasi, Azhar Khan Tanoli, Chaudhry Zahid Ahmed, Waris Dileep, Zahid Bhatti, Sajid Rasheed, Qari Sher Alam Sialvi, Chaudhry Wajid Gujar and others.
