Remembering Gulzar Begum Shaheed

Gulzar Begum Shaheed; great trade unionist and fighter

Gulzar Begum, you are still alive in our hearts

23rd March 2008 is the second death anniversary of Gulzar Begum
(Shaheed), great female trade unionist, one of the unique
examples in the working class movement.

Gulzar Begum, chairperson of Pakistan steel Progressive Workers
Union was brutally assassinated two years ago on March 23, 2006
in Karachi by the stooges of anti democratic forces.

She was the pioneer of trade union movement in Pakistan Steel
Mill and had started trade union in 1977 when the martial law of
general Zia was the order of day, political and trade union
activities were banned and media was under the siege.

As a woman it was very strange phenomenon for many to accept her
as their leader at a time when state was in full swing to
promoting all discriminatory laws against women and was trying
hard to confine womenfolk in four wall of home. She had initiated
to form real union of workers in Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM) when
she was fade up with pocket union of administration led by Mr.
Allvi.

She formed and registered union with the name of Pakistan Steel
Mill Progressive Workers Union (PSMPWU) in late seventies and
challenged the administration for the rights of twenty thousand
plus workers of Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM). Because of her
restless struggle workers get the right to elect their
representative Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) through
referendum in 1979. The referendum was won by Progressive Workers
Union with hug numbers of votes under her leadership.She forced
administration to accept charter of demands of the union which
was historic agreement in favor of workers, which addressed the
basic demands of workers of SM.

In 1984 PSMPWU again won the referendum with huge margin and one
of biggest procession in term of participants from one factory was
organized, thousands of workers with red flag with symbol of
hummer march on the streets of Karachi to show the strength of
workers power under the leadership of Gulzar begum. Again another
landmark agreement was signed between the union and PSM
management, it was first time given the right to common workers
to purchase all home appliances including TV, Fridge, washing
machines and also house purchase loan on very easy installments
without any markup or interest.

The main and everlasting work done by the PSMPWU under the
leadership of great Gulzar Begum was the acquiring the land for
the accommodation of the PSM workers. It was her struggle that
PSM workers got their own town ship with the name of Gulshan
haddeed. Two days weekly off was another demand of workers which
was accepted by the management.

As we know it was Martial Law era, PSM was run by the on-duty
Generals and they didn't like radical and progressive trade union
activism in the mill so they kept watch on all radical activists
and union leaders. Hundreds of workers were sacked from the job
but due to firm stand on the issue all workers were reinstated
with all back benefits. She announced in a rally if any body
informed about the sacked worker s/he would get five hundred
rupees and the sacked workers immediately reinstated on the job
with all privileges and back benefits.

She was the leader who challenged the military dictator Gen. Zia
at his zenith; she hackle the dictator during his speech along
with thousands of workers and raised slogan against military
rule. Military dictator offered her seat in assembly but in
prompt reply she said she hadn't recognize his government, she
would never become the part of illegal and anti democratic setup.

She was very critical about the raise of sectarian and ethnic
sentiments and divides among the workers and thought the
phenomenon poison for the unity of working class. She was upset
because of strengthening of an ethic based organization in the
urban centers of Sindh. She had been forced to join the ethnic
party; she had refused the offer but lost her life in
assassination attempt on fateful day of 23rd March 2006.Working
class scarified another outstanding daughter on that day just as
Bughat Singh Shaheed did bravely 75 years ago.

Her legacy in shape of Progressive Workers Union still alive and
workers are gathered around it. Her sacrifices and services for
the well being of workers never die down. She lives in the hearts
and minds of thousands of PSM workers.

Progressive Workers Union is affiliated with National Trade Union
Federation (NTUF) and is the only union which bitterly opposed
the privatization of PSM.

Progressive Workers Union is going to organize a reference
program on the second death anniversary of great soul of working
class on 20Th Mach 2008 @ 5pm @ Jahangir Hotel hall, Gulshan
hadeed, Phase II, near Telephone Exchange, Pakistan Steel Mills.

The reference will be addressed by Comrade Ghani Zaman ,leader
NTUF, Comrade Azra Perveen, member National Committee Labour
Party Pakistan, Mohammed Wasim ,General Secretary Progressive
Workers Union, Comrade Shehla Rizwan, Leader Labour Party
Pakistan, Sarwar Khan Niazi, President Progressive Workers Union
and Nasir Mansoor, Secretary labour affairs LPP.

Nasir Mansoor Secretary labour affair, Labour Party Pakistan
628, Mashrik Center,
Gulshan Iqbal , Block 14,
Karachi , Pakistan
Phone # +9221-485-4643, Fax No. +9221-414-1898,
Mobile # 0300-358-7211