Airports authority staff to go on strike March 11

The employees unions of state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) have called for a countrywide strike March 11 to protest against the government's move to hand over airports to private operators.

Airports Authority Employees Union general secretary and joint forum member Balraj Singh Ahlawat conveyed the decision Monday in a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

AAI employees will start an agitation with luncheon meetings from Feb 24 prior to going on strike on 11 March, Ahlawat added.

Alleging that privatisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports during the previous UPA government was a big "scam" and that civil aviation ministry had "closed down" old airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad without approval of the AAI board, Ahlawat said the government now wants to hand over four more airports, already modernised by AAI at a cost of Rs.5,000 crore, to private players.

The Airports Authority of India has invited the Request For Qualification (RFQ) from domestic and foreign firms to hand over the operation and development of Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports.

Gajapathi Raju said here last week that the government will look at airport privatization as being in the interest of the country.

"Those who want to oppose will oppose and those who want to support will support. You do what is in the interest of the country," the minister said.