AAI union calls off stir after HC intervention

New Delhi: Air passengers can rest easy for a while as the Airports Authority Employees Union deferred its strike after the Delhi high court on Thursday extended Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) deadline for them till July 31. Justice S Ravindra Bhat extended the deadline, which was going to expire on Thursday, to enable the employees to make ‘‘reasonable choices’’. The court’s direction came on a petition filed by Airport Authority Employees Union challenging an agreement under which they were being transferred to different zones in the country if they didn’t opt for VRS, nor were absorbed by DIAL or MIAL. Nearly 4,000 employees are likely to be affected by the transfers.
The union had contended that the transfers were not allowed under the Airport Authority of India Act. ‘‘Most employees of AAI were employed at the time the Act was in existence and the transfer clause did not exist for its ‘B’ and ‘C’ category employees,’’ the court noted, adding the interest of employees has to be protected.
The court also extended the tenure of the tripartite committee set up by the civil aviation ministry comprising employees representatives, Airport Authority and officials of the ministry till July 31. The committee has been asked to submit its report by June 15 to the government.
01/05/09 Times of India

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Categories: Airports May 2009