Jaipur, April. 29 (PTI): The confederation of newspapers and news agency organisations, an umbrella organisation of apex media trade unions, today threatened a countrywide agitation, including an indefinite strike, if the Central Government does not set up new wage boards for journalists and non-journalists at the earliest.
Addressing a two-day annual general meeting of the confederation here, its General Secretary M S Yadav recalled that a memorandum was submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had promised to look into demands at the earliest.
Reminding the participants of gherao of Parliament organised by five major trade unions during the budget session recently, he warned, that this was only the beginning and a symbolic protest.
"The newspaper employees across the country are seething with anger and they could explode anytime."
Yadav said journalists should not be forced to go into contract service as this posed a threat to freedom of press.
The Confederation comprises the Federation of PTI Employees' Union, The All India Newspaper Employees Federation, The Indian Journalists Union, The UNI Workers Union, and National Union of Journalists (India).
