Airport Workers Threaten Strike.

Trishaluna

Just got this update from a travel security company that my husband receives through work.


Airport workers threaten indefinite strike from 1 May

Created: April 28, 2009 10:25 GMT
Updated: April 28, 2009 10:59 GMT
Workers affiliated to the Airports Authority Employees Union (AAEU) have threatened to stage an indefinite strike at major airports across the country from 1 May. The action will be undertaken in protest at plans by the state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI), which manages ground operations at 120 airports across the country, to transfer up to 4,000 employees currently stationed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai (Maharashtra state) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in the national capital Delhi. The union is also demanding the resolution of a number of issues, including a dispute over pension arrangements.

Comment and Analysis

Up to 15,000 AAI personnel are expected to participate in the planned work stoppage. While flight services may not be severely affected by the industrial action, delays and inconvenience during ground operations such as baggage clearance and security checks should be anticipated. The impact of the strike is expected to be more acute in government-owned airports in smaller cities and towns.

The privatisation of airports has been a sensitive issue for AAI employees, who have previously resorted to industrial action. The AAEU in March 2008 staged a strike after two privately built and operated airports were inaugurated in Bangalore (Karnataka state) and Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh state), and airport workers across the country in February 2006 observed a two-day work stoppage in protest at the impending privatisation of BOM and DEL. While the action had only a marginal impact on flight schedules, ground operations at airports were severely affected.

Travel Advice

Personnel booked on flights scheduled from 1 May should contact the relevant airline or airport for to confirm their flight details before setting out.
Monitor our website and the local media for updated information on the planned strike.

Haylo

Does anyone know how often these advance threats translate into actual action?

__________________
The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

Casey

Forces are conspiring to keep me from going to India...or at least to ensure that I spend far too long in Delhi airport!

Hal

So maybe things will speed up at the airport?

Casey

I have been looking for more news of the upcoming strike but haven't found anything. Any updates?

Haylo

Unfortunately, yes. It seems they're about to close the main runway too!

Casey

Damn, coming from Canada I will probably have to line up to stick out my tongue deal with lost luggage and that's if the plane is even able to land somewhat on time! Although, as I am flying on the 1st and landing on the 2nd perhaps the runway will still be open.

Haylo

They plan to close it from the 1st I think, so that probably means that they'll still be working out what to do when I arrive in a few weeks.

Casey

I guess I should just get on the plane and stop worrying. I'll get there when I get there and hopefully someone with a little sign will be there to pick me up. I just read that the runway closure was supposed to happen mid April and last 8 months.
but this is older than your update. Maybe they will think that there is already too much confusion if there is a strike and not do it until after you leave!

http://avindia.blogspot.com/2009/03/...-airports.html

Trishaluna

Here is the update my husband received today.

Anticipate delays during airport workers' strike on 1, 2 May

Created: April 30, 2009 10:20 GMT
Updated: April 30, 2009 11:03 GMT
Workers affiliated to the Airports Authority Employees Union (AAEU) will on 1 May commence a 48-hour strike at 00.01 (local time) at major airports across the country. Airports likely to be affected include Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai (Maharashtra state), Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in the national capital Delhi and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) in Kolkata (West Bengal state). The action is being undertaken in protest at plans by the state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI), which manages ground operations at 120 airports across the country, to transfer up to 4,000 employees stationed at BOM and DEL. The union is also demanding the resolution of a number of other issues, including a dispute over pension arrangements.

Comment and Analysis

Up to 15,000 AAI employees are expected to participate in the planned industrial action. Although flights may not be severely affected by the stoppage, delays and inconvenience should be anticipated at airports, due to a shortage of staff for operations such as baggage handling. CCU is expected to be worst affected because the Centre for Indian Trade Unions, which backs the AAEU, has a large member base in Kolkata. CCU was the worst affected airport during previous similar strikes in March 2008; major disruption was reported to baggage clearance and other services such as trolleys at both the domestic and international terminals. The impact of the strike is also expected to be more acute at state-owned airports in smaller cities and towns.

The AAEU has threatened to extend the strike indefinitely if its demands are not met. The privatisation of airports has been a sensitive issue for AAI employees, who have resorted to industrial action on previous occasions. The AAEU in March 2008 staged a strike after two privately built and operated airports were inaugurated in Bangalore (Karnataka state) and Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh state). Airport workers across the country observed a two-day work stoppage in February 2006 in protest at the impending privatisation of BOM and DEL. While the action had only a marginal impact on flight schedules, ground operations at airports across the country were severely affected.

Travel Advice

Personnel booked on flights scheduled for 1-3 May should contact the relevant airline or airport to confirm their flight details before setting out for the airport.
Monitor our website and the local media for updated information on the planned strike.

delhiwala

Airports are in Private hands now ! There may be processions and sloganeering, But I don't think Government will tolerate disruption of Air Traffic.......

__________________
Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. - The Dhammapada

Nick-H

When people say things like that, I always wonder what they think government (of any country) can do about it!

There was a time when Europe was at the mercy of Air Traffic controllers.

I also like to remember, as just about the whole-world's media characterises strikers as the baddies, that people do not go on strike for no reason; there must have been a failure of management. I hope I manage to remember that if my forthcoming trip gets disrupted!

delhiwala

I hope you remember the recent strike by Oil Company Officers........It was brutally crushed by the Govt....

But I agree their demands were genuine......

Nick-H

I had forgotten, and still don't recall the details .

I don't recall it being that brutal, though?

delhiwala

Government Terminated (Not suspended !) 84 Officers of various rank including some senior ones......and threatened many with arrest.....