KESC workers carrying, MQM flags chanted slogans against retrenchment of 4,000 workers and demanded the "immediate reinstatement". Elsewhere, in front of KESC head office, the leaders of KESC Labour Union (CBA) including chairman Akhlaq Ahmed and hundreds of workers staged a "sit in" to protest against the removal of 4,000 workers.
Early in the day, an ugly incident occurred in front of KESC head office when charged workers became violent. They also torched some vehicles during the protest. Meanwhile, United Workers' Front of KESC has urged the KESC to restore all the retrenched workers.
Addressing a press conference along with union leaders at Karachi Press Club here Thursday, the general secretary of the Front Nabil Ahmed Khan said that the "voluntary separation scheme" was not reasonable, hence workers did not opt for it.
Flanked by other leaders, he said the management did not make the scheme mandatory and it was up to workers to accept it or reject it. Khan said the trade unions had repeatedly asked the management to adopt a worker-friendly attitude. But the management introduced forced retrenchment, sacking 4,000 workers. "We strongly condemned anti-workers action of KESC and express solidarity with the sacked workers and demand KESC management to restore them with immediate effect," he added.