Citu strike likely to hit Kolkata airport services next month

Kolkata: Flying into and out of Kolkata airport could become difficult next month with the powerful CPM labour union wing Citu threatening mass agitation if contract workers lose jobs in the new set-up. Following a civil aviation ministry decision, a single ground-handling agency has been appointed at Kolkata airport, sparking fears among the 1,500-plus contractual workers that they will be unceremoniously thrown out.
The contract workers are engaged by both private airlines and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for loading luggage, clearing the aircraft cabin, handling cargo, operating aerobridge and tubewells and maintaining electrical systems. NSCBI Airport Ground Workmen's Union has issued a notice to AAI officials to go on strike on September 15. Bhadra International, a Delhi-based agency, has won the contract for handling all ground operations at Kolkata and Chennai airports from October. At present, the services are provided by nearly a dozen private firms in Kolkata.
21/08/10 Times of India

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Categories: airports aug 2010