Plan Generation as Consensus-Building Process:
The representatives of the grassroots organizations and trade federations generate the plan. They do it themselves to ensure that the actions constituting the plan respond their needs. At the same time, the actions are conceived in consideration of their capabilities and constraints at the district, provincial and national levels. By matching the actions with the implementers’ needs, capabilities and constraints, the chance of successful implementation increases.

By generating their own plan, the implementers’ built, autonomy, transparency, evenhandedness and flexibility into it. Being part of the process formulating the plan, they feel responsible for making its implementation a shared duty. The process also enable them to understand all the actions that comprise the plan, the purpose for each action and the role of each level of implementers. Because all representatives agreed to the inclusion of each action in the plan through consensus building, all actions are considered fair to all concerned.

Their common understanding and support of the plan does not only signify readiness for adoption but also for adaptation to specific organizational and constant changes. Being the makers of the plan, the representatives of grassroots trade unions and trade federations are familiar enough with its components and significance that they can adjust the action without undermining the purpose. Such flexibility is necessary given the diversity of national situation and unpredictability of global environment where the Confederation operates.

The plan is a result of consensus building which is the traditional process of decision-making in the country. Through the process, change is introduced while preserving social harmony and strengthening organizational cohesion. This is attained by recognizing that each representative is a source of information and ideas and a valuable contributor to the emergence of a common decision. As a source of information, the representatives bring the experiences and sentiment of their organizations into the process and expand the information base on which the decision is made. Because the decision is derived one broad information base, an agreement forged is based on common understanding and acceptance. The result is a decision that unifies all parties with undivided support behind it. The APTUC Plan of Action is an outcome of such a decision.

Planned Actions:
The All Pakistan Trade Union Congress has the ten points for the next four year agenda to combat with the effect of globalization through which we fight and win the battles against privatization and deregulation.

The APTUC Plan of Action for the period 2001-2005 contains 79 actions. These actions are in 10 areas of concerns: solidarity, Mobilization, Education, Imagination (future vision), Skill and capacity building, Communication (awareness), Perception and thinking, Workers unity, Actions, Influence and Celebration.

There are two sets of actions. One set is composed of actions to be implemented at National level. Another set has actions to be implemented only at the trade Federation and Grassroots level.

This include Seminars, Workshops, discussion sessions, processions, demonstrations, press conferences, Training Events, field trips, livilihood schemes, visit programs, community action, callobration with NGO,s and civil society partners, participation in events local, Regional, International, interaction and joint working with ILO, UNESCO,WHO,UNAIDS, WSM, CNV International, and parental Organizations WCL and BATU.

The Focus and strategic direction of activities is around :

• Solidarity! The Labour Movement needs to come together and work together locally, nationally, and internationally to fight globalization and what it’s doing to our communities.

  With the help of grassroots unions, Trade Federation and other national and international partners a campaign for workers solidarity will be launched besides holding of grassroots awareness seminars at district and provincial level.

• Mobilize! The Labour Movement must move into the community to organize against privatization and deregulation. We must organize to take action and build the capacity for our communities to take up the fight. Home, community, workplace, union... they’re all connected.

  A large number of marginalized workers are away from the mainstream of trade union social movement in view of their status a series of seminars, workshops and motivation campaigns to be launched during the mandated period.

• Educate! Education is a powerful organizational tool. We need to educate our members to take direct action, working with groups who share our goals and values: youth, seniors, cultural communities and workers who aren’t organized.

  Education and training activities for different sectors and trade to be organized minimum five activities of each sector / trade to be organized at different level.

• Imagine! We need to build broad-based coalitions that link partners from our communities and from all walks of life. Working together, we can build a new social and economic model that puts people first.

  New initiatives will include economic activities awareness through training programmes, social dialogues with legislators, finance managers, government officials and other stakeholders.

• Build! Labour Councils play a crucial role in bringing our vision for progressive change to our communities. We need to commit the resources to strengthen their capacity to build links between labour and the community. Set new body for working partnership with the management and other communities are working with the organization.
• Communicate! We need to get our message out through all of the communications tools available to tell people in our communities about how privatization, deregulation, and globalization affect them at home.

  This includes supporting alternative media and adopting creative communication methods and training our members how to use them. Information dissemination activities like separate web site, newsletter and other relevant material to be launched and published for workers and other social partners awareness.

• Think! Collective bargaining needs to be seen from a broader perspective. It has to include the issues that affect our communities. We can make collective bargaining a tool for challenging the globalization agenda at home.

  Special dialogues with the government official and management of public and private sector for improvement in livelihood of the marginalized workforce from informal and unorganized sector. Seminars and workshops on these sectors will take place after every 3 months.

• Unity! Common language and strategies can be coordinated for fighting privatization and deregulation through collective agreements throughout the labour movement.

  Organized other trade confederations and trade federations to combat with the effects of globalization combined meetings with the friendly organizations on the issues of retrenchment and privatization.

• Action! We need to generate and support political activism by our members at all levels. This includes organizing campaigns to promote public services, developing courses on fighting globalization – and delivering them at the local level.

  Media campaign for getting attention of different authorities and give message to the general public about the workers economic slaughter.

• Influence! The Labour Movement needs to elect people who preserve and expand public services and then hold them accountable. City councils, hospital boards, school boards, commissions and taskforces... we need to be there.

  We need to actively lobby in support of public services and work in support of the people who share our goals. Start social welfare activities with the help of public service trade federation in the field of health, social services and self employment advises.

  And finally...

• Celebrate! We need to take pride in our victories and share our stories with each other. Issuance of year book for general public and our affiliates which will highlight our achievements and struggles.