Newspaper agents’ strike: Labour Minister calls meeting today

Sunday, March 25, 2012: The Labour Minister Shibu Baby John has called a meeting of Newspaper managements and agents to try and arrive at a compromise today.
The strike has been sponsored by unions affiliated to CPI-M’s trade union wing CITU demanding a hefty hike in the agents’ commission.
The agents are demanding 50 per cent of the cover price of a daily as their commission and additional service charge for pull-outs and supplements. They are now getting 28 per cent of the cover price as commission.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had directed the police to take strong action against those who were hindering others from distributing newspapers, official sources said.