The Hindu : New Delhi News : Hunger strike by Airports staff

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Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008
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Hunger strike by Airports staff

Staff Reporter

No disruption of operations at IGI Airport in Delhi

Photo: Sandeep Saxena

Demanding their due: Members of Airports Authority Employees’ Union holding a demonstration at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: The Airports Authority Employees’ Union (AAEU) held a relay hunger-strike at all 126 airports across the country on Tuesday to press their demands. There was no disruption of operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport here.

After commencing the hunger-strike at the IGI Airport, the action shifted to Rajiv Ghandhi Bhavan near INA Market for most part of the day.

Peaceful protest

“It was a peaceful protest. There were no disruptions and no problem for the passengers,” said a Delhi International Airport (Private) Limited spokesperson.

Apart from several employees-related issues, the employees’ union has been demanding a re-look at the shutting down of existing airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad as and when the new ones come up there.

“We had discussions with the Airports Authority of India chairman K. Ramalingam on Tuesday on issues that are in the domain of the government and the ones in the jurisdiction of the AAI. We have been assured that our demands will be conveyed to the authorities and necessary action taken to meet them,” said AAEU general secretary M. K. Ghoshal.

He also warned that if the AAI management and the Government failed to take any step on their demands in the coming few days, the union would not limit itself to a peaceful protest like this one.

“We will watch the developments over the next few days, and if nothing materialises, we will take action, including closure of airports,” Mr. Ghoshal said.

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