AAEU to go on nationwide indefinite strike from Feb 26

NEW DELHI: Agitated over the "failure" of the government to fulfil its 19-point charter of demands, the Airport Authority Employees' Union has called a nationwide indefinite strike from February 26.
    
"No action has been taken by the government since our token strike on February 12 with respect to our demands. So we have decided to undertake a countrywide massive industrial action during which all the non-executives will remain off the job from February 26," AAEU General Secretary M K Ghoshal said.
    
He said despite several meetings and assurances, nothing has been done about their demands such as issues related to the Airport Authority of India employees at Delhi and Mumbai airports, arbitrary decisions of closing of airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore and non-holding of tripartite committee meeting in this regard.
    
The Union has sent a letter to AAI Chairman K Ramalingam, reiterating its demands and informing about the employees' decision to go on strike.
    
The AAEU, on February 12, staged a nationwide relay fast to protest the government's decision to close the existing airports being run by AAI in Hyderabad and Bangalore and other employees-related issues.
    
During their strike in 2006, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had announced setting up of Tripartite Committee comprising representatives of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, AAI and employees to look into the issues.
    
But the Union complained that for the past eight to nine months, no meeting has been convened.