The joint struggle of Federal Union of Journalist and Newspapers Hawkers Union forced the bosses of newspapers to retreat from reducing the newspapers holidays from 8 to 6 annually. The bosses over the years have already reduced the holidays from 18 to 8 annually. The news paper bosses have also refused to implement the new wage board award (package to increase wages of journalists, prepared jointly by journalist union and bosses in the presence of government nominee, usually a Supreme Court judge). The anger was developing since many years against the bosses’ onslaught. The decision to reduce the holidays sparked this anger and journalist union decided to launch protest movement. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) organized protest demonstrations across the country in which hundreds of journalist participated. The Hawkers Union (Akhbar Frosh Union) also decided to join this struggle. Both the unions organized the series of demonstrations which force the bosses to retreat. This was the first joint struggle of these unions since many years. This was first victory for journalist in many years.
TURCP and SMP members actively intervened in this protest movement. Many Socialist were sold in the demonstration. SMP was the only left organization in Islamabad and Karachi which intervened in the demonstrations and remained active part of the movement. TURCP pledge its support and showed full solidarity with journalists and hawkers.
Another Victory for Hawkers Union
After this battle, the hawker’s union takes on to the most difficult battle against the largest right wing newspaper Nawai- Waqat, which was trying to cut the hawkers commission by almost 40%. This was a big financial loss for the poor hawkers. When hawkers’ union leaders tried to negotiate with boss of this newspaper, he simply refused to meet them. The hawkers union decided to boycott this news paper and refused to sell this paper. The owner of the paper tried to ignore this boycott and tried to sell the paper through their own hawkers but this effort also failed. On the fourth day of this boycott, the boss announced to withdraw the proposed cut and invite the hawkers’ union leadership for the negotiations. This newspaper is the most anti working class paper in Pakistan. It is a traditional representative of the conservative ruling class and hate Socialists. This victory has further increased the confidence of hawkers and newspaper workers. This is another defeat for the bosses in a short period of time. The bosses are making millions from the profits but workers are not getting the wages on time. There is no increase in the wages of journalist and employs of these newspapers since 7 years because bosses refused to implement the agreed wage board award. The bosses are preparing for a new offensive. They will try to divide the journalist and hawkers unions alliance to gave concession to one and attack the other. TURCP has proposed to the both unions to continue the unity and alliance to defend their rights, otherwise both will loose one after the other.