The long-standing dispute between the laid off workers of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and management finally came to end with a resolve as utility management agreed not to force any worker to opt its announced voluntary redundancy scheme.
After hours'' long deliberations on Monday night, both sides reached an agreement with special mediatory role played by serving Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan. The utility management has withdrawn its decision to retrench workers added in the surplus pool.
The CBA union flew the rage in the month of May when utility management categorically announced to sack some 4,500 workers and put them in the surplus pool. In an outraged reaction, union began its massive protest campaign by staging rallies and sit-in pursuance of their demands that continued for more than 75 days.
However, Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad, after taking over the charge as Governor Sindh, assured to resolve dispute between the management and the union, saying the matter would be settled by July 25 and it happened apparently. On late Monday night, both parties with consultation prepared a minute of the agenda discussed and mutually agreed to form a ''dispute resolution committee'' comprising of KESC, Civil Admin and the Labour Union to discuss and work out a resolution on all pending/outstanding issues.
According to KESC Spokesman, the understanding has been reached between the management and union for resolving the issue in a meeting with Governor Sindh and Commissioner Karachi in attendance. It was decided that all offices and service centers of KESC would be opened to serve the citizens of Karachi without any hindrance. All protests and sit-in will immediately come to an end.
Management agreed that no one from the surplus pool will be retrenched ''at the moment''. None of the workers in question will resume their previous positions or duties and in the mean time, they ''can'' sign in on their attendance till further decisions are drawn by the dispute resolution committee.
Spokesman said the committee will also evaluate each case independently and see if any worker has skill sets that can be used in any ''Core'' Function because as of now, their previous positions do not exist and are redundant. Regarding the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) contention, it was decided that VSS would be paid out to all those who have already opted for it, will be handed over on a priority basis. The VSS scheme will continue, and any worker desirous of opting for it can still do so.
No Labour Union Worker will resort to any sort of violence whatsoever. And, if anyone is found disrupting peace or the operating environment, he will be reported to the civil admin which will take action against the individuals involved. Spokesman said both parties also agreed to fully adhere to the Court Orders (CPD 1,428/2011) and ensure the cohesive working environment that prevails in the utility.
Chairman CBA labour union Akhlaq Ahmed told Business Recorder that dust has been settled down with the intervention of Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan, adding no worker would be exhorted to adopt VSS. He said the termination letters given to workers would be withdrawn, adding pending wages for employees would also be paid to them accordingly. KESC CEO Tabish Gauhar, five-member delegation of labour union, Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Hussain Syed and Governor Sindh Dr Isharat-ul-Ibad were prominent among those who were involved in the negotiations.