Unions at PIA

The token machine was broken so stubs of paper with printed numbers were placed on an inconspicuous counter. I went to purchase an international ticket and wanted to be sure I was following the correct process. Unfortunately as I could not locate the representative of the international ticketing, I made the mistake of inquiring the lady at the national ticketing counter who was unoccupied at that moment.

"I need to purchase an international ticket. Are these the relevant tokens?" I asked.

In a voice clearly upset and an expression indicating extreme burden she stated:

"You want an international ticket? Go to the international desk! Why are you asking me?"

The main PIA office is littered with posters of PPP and Benazir. With the reemergence of union power, the workers of PIA may be feeling very excited at the prospect that their job security will remain insured despite the massive losses being faced by the national carrier - an institution like most all the rest of the companies owned by the government marred by inefficiencies, over staffing and thriving incompetence. But the PIA workers are bound to be excited. Not about working harder or with efficiency, but with the knowledge that they need to owe nothing, not even a smile to their customers. The unions have the backing of the government and in an era when privatization is an option - though not always successful as in the case of KESC - to root out inefficiencies, this government has gone to sufficient lengths to appease. An inspiring example was the re-hiring of the thousands of discharged staff in the mid 1990's who are back with the entire back pay and retain their lucrative posts.



The intensity of the union activity can be seen at the Allama Iqbal International Airport as well with the floods of banners by the PPP and an attempt by the PML-N to make some headway into this vote-bank.