Patel pleads with AAI employees to resume work

Hyderabad/Kolkata: Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Thursday asked the employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to resume work saying the existing airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore would continue to remain operational for general aviation (corporate and business jets), defence purposes and national emergencies.
However, the airports would not be open for commercial operations, he said, adding the “interests of the AAI employees at these airports will be fully protected.”
The employees are on strike against the proposed closure of the two airports once the private greenfield facilities start functioning.
All reserved activities such as security, immigration, Customs and air-traffic control would continue to be under government control, Patel told Parliament. Patel’s statement is a change from the government’s earlier stand that the two airports would be closed for aviation operations.
However, Patel’s offer has been rejected by the employees’ union. “The agitation will continue. The government’s earlier assurances did not materialise. We would like to sit across the table and sort out the matter,” said union leader Dilip Gurjar.
13/03/08 Business Standard/MSN India

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Categories: AAI Strike 08, Airports Mar 2008