Pakistan Coke Workers Win Union Recognition and Permanent Jobs

Coke Union Presidents Ghulam Rasool, Khalid Pervez, Khaista Rehman

by Paul Garver

After a long and bittler struggle 187 workers at the Coke bottling plant in Multan, Pakistan, have won recognition of their People’s Employees’ Union.   Their precarious jobs have been converted into permanent ones, directly employed by Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Ltd (a joint venture of the Coca-Cola Company and its Turkish-based bottling partner Coca-Cola Icecek).

The agreement was reached after 19 hours of negotiations at the Geneva office of the IUF (International Union of Foodworkers), and was formally signed by the IUF, the Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Icecek following endorsement by the three IUF-affiliated Coca-Cola Workers Unions in Pakistan.

The Global Alliance of Coca-Cola Workers coordinated by the IUF has made the struggle for union rights and for secure permanent employment its global priorities.

 

Ghulam Rasool , President of the PEU in Multan, declared that “This agreement has restored the rights of our members who were unfairly dismissed more than a year ago and gives us the opportunity to finally exercise our union rights in Coca-Cola Multan.”

Khalid Pervez, President of the Coca-Cola Workers’ Union, Rahim Yar Khan, called the agreement “A major breakthrough for trade union rights and recognition in Coca-Cola Pakistan and the work of the IUF-affiliated National Federation of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Workers (NFFBTW).”

Khaista Rehman, President of the Coca-Cola Beverages Staff & Worker’s Union Karachi and member of the steering committee of the IUF Global Alliance of Coca-Cola Workers, said, “This is a great victory for all Coca-Cola workers in Pakistan. We can now ensure respect and dignity in the workplace.”