The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Airport staff stir hits cargo movement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 03, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Airport staff stir hits cargo movement

Special Correspondent

There is no impact on flight operations

CHENNAI: The Airports Authority of India Employees Joint Forum (AAIEJF) continued their strike against the privatisation of Mumbai and Delhi airports for the second day at the Chennai airport on Thursday.

Though it did not have any impact on flight operations, cargo movement was affected.

Representatives of the constituents of the Campaign Committee of Trade Unions' in Chennai (CCTUC) comprising banks, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Aavin, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies, Atomic Energy, Port Trust, Road Transport and other Central and State Government Departments extended their support to the striking employees.

Representatives of these organisations raised slogans in support of the AAIEJF and spoke at the protest demonstration meeting before the Kamaraj Domestic Terminal.

The CCTUC demonstration was led by president C.K. Mathivanan and general secretary A. Bhaskar.

Squatting near the canopy of the domestic terminal, the AAI staff owing allegiance to the Employees Union raised slogans against the Centre for not reposing faith on the Forum's alternative plan and the expertise available within the AAI. "If AAI can construct airports abroad why not within our own country?" they asked.

"Today's situation was better on the export clearance side while there was no improvement in the clearance of the import cargo," said R. Vijay Kondath, vice-president of Air Cargo Agents Association of India.

He said the Association has sought adequate police protection for the officers on standby duty at the cargo complex.

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