Tuesday, April 19 2005 16:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Hundreds of newspaper and news agency employees from across the country today (Apr 19, 2005) marched to Parliament demanding setting up of new Wage Boards and a ban on FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in print media.

The employees, under the banner of Confederation of Newspaper and News Agency Employees Organisations, marched carrying banners and placards and shouting slogans but were stopped at the Parliament Street Police Station.

Leaders of All India Newspaper Employees Federation, National Union of Journalists (India), Indian Journalists Union, Federation of PTI Employees' Unions and PTI Workers' Union - the five national trade unions that are the constituents of the Confederation - also protested against the "illegal and arbitrary" termination of employees by a leading newspaper.

Asserting that the Contract system in the industry was an assault on the freedom of speech and deprived the employees of their labour rights, Confederation General Secretary M S Yadav urged all unions to close their ranks and work unitedly.

Demanding immediate setting up of the Wage Boards, he exhorted employees to gear up for a long-drawn battle.

Confederation president Madan Phadnis, HT Employees Union S N Sinha, IJU president Suresh Akhouri, Indian Express Union leader M L Talwar, AINEF leader Santosh Kumar, PTI Workers

Union president Sunil Sehgal, UNI Workers' Union president M L Joshi were among those who addressed the protest march.