INS regrets decision on strike

MUMBAI, APRIL 22: Indian Newspaper Society INS president Mammen Mathew has regretted the decision of the All India Newspaper Employees Federation to go on a day8217;s token strike on Thursday against quot;hardened attitudequot; of INS towards wage boards tentative proposalsquot; regarding wage fixation.

Stating that no decision, even tentatively, had been taken by the boards yet, he said in a press release that the question of adversely affecting existing salaries or putting pressure by INS on wage board officials did not arise.

quot;The INS would be happy if the employees maintain cordial employer-employee relations in the industry and do not take any unilateral step,quot; he said.

He said both the sides should ensure that the wage boards presided over by Justice Raj Kumar Manisana Singh could complete the work in a just manner and without any delay.

quot;To deprive the readers of their newspaper on such sectarian pretext particularly at a time when the country is passing through a phase of uncertainty is most unfortunate,quot; Mathew said.