MIAL, AAI pass the buck over reinstatement of contract workers

Mumbai: A human resource battle over the reinstatement of 83 contract workers is brewing between the old and new management of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) —the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (MIAL) respectively.
The Indian Airport’s Employees Union on Tuesday staged a protest at terminal 1-B demanding the reinstatement of 83 contract workers who were denied access to the airport. As per a notice issued by M P Singh, senior manager (HR), MIAL, on April 3, the gate passes for 83 contract labourers were withdrawn and access to the airport was effectively barred. “Most of these workers have been working at the airport for over 20 years, and are fighting to be made permanent employees of AAI,” said Deepti Gopinath, general secretary of the Indian Airport’s Employees Union.
However, MIAL and AAI are now passing the buck. “AAI had stopped paying wages to these workers and, therefore, we didn’t think it was appropriate for the labourers to have airport gate passes,” said an MIAL spokesperson. Meanwhile, AAI Regional Executive Director, S R R Rao described AAI’s position as “piquant” since “MIAL had unilaterally taken the decision, without any co-ordination with AAI.”
05/06/07 Lekha Agarwal/Mumbai Newsline

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Categories: Airports Jun 2007