960420

Inconclusive talks

on KMC strike

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: A meeting of the officials of the Sindh Government, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the representatives of the United Workers Union (UWU) held at the KMC head office on Saturday to find out a solution to the continuing strike by the local body's employees remained inconclusive.

The workers' representatives at the meeting handed over a charter of demands to Fahim Zaman, Administrator, KMC, and asked him to forward the same to the Chief Minister of Sindh for consideration.

It has been reiterated in the charter of demands that there should not be any decentralization of the KMC and the respective zonal municipal offices should continue to remain under its administrative control. The UWU has also demanded that there should be proper arrangements to safeguard the terms and conditions of the employees of the KMC.

Kaniz Fatima, A leader of the UWU, talking to Business Recorder, said that the implementation of the decision to decentralize KMC would be a negation of the rights and privileges of civic bodies in the country.

She further said that the UWU continued its strike on Saturday and had decided to remain on strike till an amicable settlement of their problem had been found out.

As workers of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) have also supported the UWU strike, there was no staff to attend to complaints regarding overflowing sewerage and refuse vans and other vehicles also remained off road. The staff of the health department did not go out for field work.

However, despite thin attendance, KMC head office remained open and some of the departments functioned as usual.