APP workers on strike

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 26 February 2013

Employees of the APP union have initiated a nationwide strike due to long-awaited salary arrears and lack of funds for various benefits. Their demands highlight the dire financial conditions affecting both current and retired employees.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: APP Employees Union of Pakistan (CBA) Islamabad and workers of the organization Tuesday observed strike across the country to protest a delay in the release of funds for payment of salary arrears as well as other fringe benefits to employees.

According to a Press release, the striking workers demanded of the government to have already sanctioned grants for the news agency released to fulfill the organization’s monetary needs and for making payments to employees.

The union and the workers expressed deep concern over the deteriorating financial situation of the agency as widows, and retired employees were waiting for payment of dues of more than a year.

Similarly, the serving employees are not getting arrears for the increase in salaries announced by the government during 2010-11, 2011-12 as well as revision in salaries announced in the annual budget 2012-13.

Arshad Majeed Chaudhry, the union’s general secretary said the employees were facing serious difficulties due to suspension of medical facility, non-payment of utility bills, medical bills, overtime, night allowance and number of other facilities allowed under the law.

“This is worrisome that a grant sanctioned by the Finance Division worth Rs91 million to pay arrears for the increase in salaries during 2011-12 and Rs 152 million sanctioned for newly regularized employees were not released in time,” Arshad said.

“Furthermore, even a grant of Rs300 million announced by the Prime Minister in July 2012 to overcome the financial problems of the organization has not yet been released.”

The release said the situation was repeatedly brought to the notice of information and finance secretaries and letters written to the ministers for information and broadcasting and finance and revenue and finally to the president and the prime minister.

The workers vowed to continue pressing for their demands.

KEY POINTS:

• APP Employees Union strikes over unpaid salary arrears.
• Workers demand timely release of government grants.
• Deteriorating financial conditions affecting widows and retirees.
• Suspension of medical facilities and non-payment of utility bills reported.
• Grants sanctioned by finance division not released on time.