Journalists demanding new Wage Board march to Parliament

New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) Hundreds of journalist and non-journalist employees of the newspaper industry today marched to Parliament to press for the setting up of a new Wage Board and halting the sale of a majority stake in UNI to a media house.

The marchers under the banner of the Confederation of Newspaper and News Agencies Employees' Unions, were, however, prevented from reaching Parliament House. The police stopped them in front of the 'Shram Shakti Bhawan' (Labour Ministry office) at the Rafi Marg.

In a memorandum to Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes, the Confederation made out a strong case for the new Wage Board, saying that due to ''drastic fall in value of rupee during the last 10 years, purchasing power of common man is severely eroded, creating a wide gap between the living wage and the existing wage.'' " At the same time the financial position of the newspapers by and large has substantially improved with regard to income and profitablity, their capital structure is further strengthened," the memorandum said.

Carrying placards and raising slogans, the protestors also demanded reinstating 362 dismissed HT employees and establishing a permanent mechanism to protect jobs in the newspaper industry and setting up of the Media Commission to suggest ways and means on how to face challenges in the face of information revolution, defend the freedom of speech and expression and the workers' right of forming unions and collective bargaining.

The protestors also organised a rally on the spot which was addressed by among others NUJ President Dr N K Trikha, Confederation General Secretary M S Yadav, All India Newspaper Employees Federation Working President Santosh Kumar, IJU president Suresh Akhourie, DUJ chief S K Pande and UNI workers union General Secretary Mukesh Kaushik.

Mr Yadav decried that the government had done " nothing tangible" even though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, I and B Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and the Labour Minister had assured them of positive action when they met them separately and submitted their charter of demands.

Mr Santosh Kumar and Dr Trikha emphasised that the independence and nuetrality of news agencies were paramount in a democratic set up like that of India as they not only served millions of readers through newspapers but the entire world.

Mr Akhourie said a massive March to Parliament would also be taken out during the Budget session with participation from across the country.

Mr Pande referred to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajashekar Reddy's recent assurance to the Confederation leaders that his government would ensure the implementation of Wage Board recommendations (when it is set up) in all the newspapers in his state." We are going to enact a law by which punishment will be accorded to the erring newspapers," Mr Reddy had said.

Mr Kaushik also made out a case for strict implementation of the Wage Board recommendations making it" compulsory." UNI KSA RP AT HT1542