Airport employees union threaten strike over pending demands

NEW DELHI: Accusing the management of Airports Authority of India's (AAI) of showing "stubborn and disdainful attitude" towards their pending issues, its employees' union on Tuesday said they are open to talks but will go on a nationwide strike from May one if their demands are not heard.

"I would be the last person to go on a strike at a time when the whole nation is busy with the elections, but we are forced as the management is taking arbitrary decisions which are against employee's interest," said M K Ghoshal, General Secretary, Airports Authority Employees Union (AAEU).

The AAEU, which is one of the largest employees union of the AAI with around 15,000 members, had threatened to go on a nation-wide strike from midnight on April 30 and the next day.

The decision in this regard was taken by the AAEU after a meeting here last year.

"The essential services at the 123 AAI run-airports is likely to be affected badly if the employees go on an indefinite strike," Ghoshal said.

Employees have accused the AAI management of showing disregard to the decisions of Tripartite committee, formed to look into the issues and proposals of modernising airports by AAI and employees related issues including their job security.