Thank you Bubblegum for your comments, and thanks to others for your emails of support.

I greatly appreciate them.

The staff under threats are safe and sound.

Just to recap where we are:

Himalmedia is a Union-friendly company.

It has a Staff Union.

That Union enjoys the support of more than 85 per cent of the staff.

After one full year of negotiations, that Union has signed an agreement with the management.

But some employees are not happy. They want to form and register a separate Maoist Union. But they do NOT have the needed (25 per cent of) staff support. And that's the biggest problem for them.

All this kich-kich (stone-throwing, death threats, patrika burning) seems to have come from them (and their Kranti-kari buddies) outside.

I understand that with the Maoist party in power, they, with outside help, are putting an enormous pressure on the Labour Ministry to 'somehow' (even illegally!) recognise the Himalmedia Chapter of Maoist Trade Union.

In days ahead, let us see whether the Labour Ministry gives in to the party- political pressure or upholds the law which says the Ministry can ONLY recognise a Trade Union when that Union shows a proof of support from at least 25 per cent of staff within a specified time.

So, the drama contrinues.

Thank you all.

oohi

ashu