People's Democracy

HUNGER DEATH IN HT

Massive Response To Protest Call

Trade union and journalist bodies leaders at the protest meet in front of the HT gate

THE Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) observed Black Day on September 15 to express solidarity with the illegally sacked and starving employees of the Hindustan Times, one of whom Mahender, aged 30 years, had committed suicide ON September 14 due to hunger.

Wearing black badges, hundreds of journalists and press workers converged in front of the gate of the Hindustan Times. Shouting slogans against the HT management, they demanded immediate reinstatement of the 362 retrenched workers. They formed a chain with the Hindustan Times Employees Union later in the day.

As the day advanced, central trade unions also joined the rally. Among those who addressed the rally were Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) secretary Tapan Sen, state CITU president Sudhir Kumar, All India Newspaper Employees Federation vice-president Santosh Kumar, Hindustan Times Employees Union president Anand Parkash and Indian Express Union president Madan Talwar and  PTI federation leaders  Ajay Tyagi and Amrit Mohan. Most called for intensification of struggle and formation of a united front.

The DUJ president S K Pande announced that October 2 would be observed as a Protest Day in view of  increasing anti-labour practices of various newspaper managements driving desperate workers to commit suicide due to starvation and strain.

It may be recalled that it was on October 2, 2004 that the Hindustan Times management arbitrarily removed 362 permanent employees from their jobs in flagrant violation of the law of the land and without recourse to due procedures.

On September 14 as news reached of the tragic death of Mahendra, many employees held a vigil outside the gate of HT building at Kasturba Gandhi Marg shouting slogans against the management. His body was brought to the building and a charged atmosphere prevailed. Leaders of HT Employees Union, DUJ president  Delhi CITU secretary Mohan Lal and others addressed the agitated employees. (INN)