New Delhi: Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) condemns the decision of the Hindustan Times Management for closing down the publication centers of Bhopal, Indore, Ranchi, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi and Kolkata.
IFWJ President K Vikram Rao has urged the Prime Minister Sri. Narendra Modi’s intervention in to the issue highlighting the fact that 100s of Journalists will be rendered jobless due to the decision of Hindustan Times.
He has asked the IFWJ state units to lodge a formal complaint with the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal to take note of the victimisation of journalists and non-journalist employees as it is an arbitrary closure of the six editions of the newspapers and removal of a large number of employees from many publication centers. He termed the act of newspaper’s management as illegal and in violation of labour laws of India.
IFWJ also accused that the Hindustan Times management is yet to implement the Majithia Wage Boards recommendations. The method of changing the designations and indiscriminately transferring the employees to far off places to deprive them the benefits of the Wage Boards.
The IFWJ has also appealed to employees of different editions that they should lodge complaints with the respective labour commissioners in their states and forward a copy to its official email [email protected].
IFWJ has formed a legal cell which is headed by IFWJ legal advisor Mr. Ashwani Kumar Dubey, an Advocate on Record in the Supreme Court of India with expertise on Labour laws, Trade Unions and Environment. He will be advising the aggrieved employees regarding the right course of action.
The National Jounrnalists body also deployed IFWJ Secretary Headquarters Vipin Dhuliya (Mob: 9818627033) and National Federation of Newspaper Employees General Secretary Com. C.M.Papni (Mob: 9871757316) to help the affected employees of Hindustan Times.
It also asked the employees of other states to contact IFWJ’s state units in the respective states of Madhya Pradesh : Salman Khan President M.P.-W.J.U.: 8602420351, Uttar Pradesh: Com.Haseeb Siddiqui President U.P.W.J.U.: 9369774311, Jharkhand : Shahnawaz Hassan President J.J.A.: 9472752955 and West Bengal : Ranjan Lahari President W.B.-W.J.U.: 9434861122.
IFWJ has been working tirelessly for the rights of journalists since 1950. We are always there for our colleagues. As a Journalist Trade Union we are there to help not charge any fee or take undue favours, advantages from the distressed employees.
