Entry jitters for airport ground staff

Kolkata: A carefully crafted crisis is played out at the airport every month-end. Monthly security passes, which are issued to a host of agencies engaged at the airport, including those handling ground services, are invariably held back till the last hour every month. On Thursday, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) - the nodal agency in charge of passes - did not issue any pass at all, not even day passes.
As the last working day of each month approaches, 2,500-odd contractual workers at the airport feel the jitters. "Will my pass be renewed, or won't it?" is the fear that rules the hearts. For airlines, it is no better. If workers who carry luggage, clean aircraft, drive limousines and perform scores of other non-executive duties are unable to report to work, it will become impossible to operate flights.
"It is similar to the pangs on the eve of bandh or strike when contractual workers don't turn up," said a senior official of an airline.
26/08/11 Times of India

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Categories: airports aug 2011