PESCO employees union boycotts referendum

PESCO Employees Pegham Union Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has boycotted from participating in referendum conducted by National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and termed the electoral exercise completely against spirit of provincial autonomy and rules.
Speaking at press conference at press club here on Thursday, Central Secretary General of the Union, Asghar Khattak, said that the provinces had gained autonomy following passage of 18th constitutional amendments.
Therefore, he said that the Industrial Relations Act (IRA) 2010 should be implemented on all those power distribution companies (Discos), which were lacking branch, or has less than one. He added under the Act, a referendum was conducted for the registered trade of Multan Electricity Supply Company (MESC), later the collective bargaining agent (CBA) issued certificate of wining body of the union.
Despite the fact, he further maintained, the NIRC is holding referendum in the registered trade union and its power distribution companies across the country, which was totally illegal and unconstitutional, because the rule is not applicable on provinces to hold such electoral exercise for Discos.
Flanked by the Union Central Chairman, Arbab Altaf, Usman Ali Afridi, Niaz Wali, Zulfiqar Ali, and others, Mr Khattak informed that NIRC had announced to hold elections in Wapda and its power distribution companies on February 02, 2017, which was later suspended by Lahore High Court through a writ petition on 26 November last year, despite that NIRC registrar/Deputy Registrar; Zakaullah is conducting a referendum, contrary to constitution and rules.
He said the holding of joint referendum of Wapda and its power distribution companies could only be possible when all Discos are dissolved and merged with Wapda and brought under a single establishment. He said the current referendum was just an eye-washed, which was unacceptable to them, therefore, they boycotted from the electoral exercise.
The Secretary General said the referendum of Wapda and its power distribution companies was mere plan of government and Hydro unions to privatise the Discos. He said the NIRC rules didn't implement on power distribution companies and employees of Discos could only move to Labour court, instead of NIRC.