At present, the economic crisis has intensified across the entire world. This economic crisis is a global organic crisis of the capitalist system, as a result of which the ruling class is bent on implementing measures such as wage cuts, pension reductions, job losses, privatisation of public institutions, downsizing, and forced retirements. These policies have been implemented with full force by the ruling classes of countries across the world, including backward capitalist countries like Pakistan. These so-called reform programmes are formulated by imperialist institutions like the IMF, which are concerned with recovering their money rather than with the welfare of the people. The loan agreements that the ruling class enters into with the IMF are always kept hidden from the public, and these loans are repaid by squeezing the blood of working people. At the same time, the public is made to believe that the country is in crisis and therefore the people must now make even greater sacrifices than before.
Similarly, the entire burden of these imperialist economic policies has fallen upon Pakistan’s poor people, as a result of which government employees and workers across the country, along with the general public, are protesting. Whenever the working class fights for its demands, a general strike—that is, a work stoppage—becomes an essential action through which the working class, whether ordinary industrial workers or service sector employees, teachers or factory workers, together bring society to a standstill. This is because it is this class that runs the entire society. Consider: if all workers in hospitals—junior doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff—went on strike, what would happen? If all linemen and other workers at WAPDA went on strike, who would run the electricity system? If sanitary workers or cleaning staff went on strike, our cities would become uninhabitable.
The Power of Workers
This is the power of the working class, which demonstrates to them that they are the real strength of this society and can bring it to a halt whenever they choose. In recent days, employees across Pakistan, including throughout Sindh, have been protesting for their rights. Their demands include the reversal of pension reforms, the provision of DRA (Disparity Reduction Allowance) and other allowances, and pay increases. The Sindh Employees Alliance, the organisation leading employees across Sindh, announced two days ago in Karachi that from 23 September, government offices and institutions would be locked down. This is an extremely important and timely decision, but this lockdown is not for an indefinite period.
The Critical Moment of Strike Action
In the workers’ movement, lockdowns and strikes represent an extremely important and decisive phase. The Sindh Employees Alliance has announced a lockdown of only a few days, after which another sit-in will be held at Bilawal House in Karachi. The Alliance has already conducted one-day strikes and lockdowns twice before, during which employees faced state violence and arrests. The majority of participants in these strikes were teachers. However, these strikes could not prove effective. Repeatedly putting the movement on the back foot indicates that the leadership of other organisations within the Alliance is not serious about the matter of lockdowns and strikes. If the duration of the strike is not extended, it will lead both the workers and the movement towards defeat and demoralisation.
Building a Nationwide Movement
The Sindh Employees Alliance should, starting from Sindh, establish contacts with employees’ and workers’ organisations across the entire country. This movement is not confined to one province alone but is also ongoing in KPK, Punjab, and Balochistan. Setting aside divisions of colour, ethnicity, and language, this movement should be united on the basis of class solidarity and should move towards a nationwide general strike at the same time. This will not only increase the strength of employees and workers but will also enable them to successfully achieve their demands.
