Trade union leaders stage satyagraha outside Madhyamam office
Protesters demand steps to resolve the employees’ indefinite strike, which began on September 3. Unions allege that salary arrears are entering their ninth month, with permanent staff receiving only a nominal portion of their February pay.
A satyagraha, or peaceful protest, was organized on Saturday, October 31, in Kozhikode outside the Madhyamam daily's headquarters, according to trade union leaders from across the state and central regions. The Joint Trade Union Committee spearheaded this demonstration, demanding resolution to the indefinite strike that has persisted for two months.
The core issue driving this protest is the management's inability to address the ongoing salary arrears, now reaching their ninth month. These strikes were initiated on September 3 by the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) and the Kerala Newspaper Employees’ Federation, with backing from the Joint Trade Union Coordination Committee.
The unions have accused both the management and the government of turning a blind eye to their plight. They also claim that while contractual workers receive their salaries on time, permanent employees' wages have been withheld intentionally, forcing them to either accept contractual jobs or leave their positions. As October came to an end, permanent staff members had only received a fraction of their February salary, they alleged.
The satyagraha was officially started by Elamaram Kareem, the general secretary of the Central Indian Trade Union.
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