AAI union leaders on hunger strike

"The Airports Authority of India (AAI) management has failed to implement the common seniority for its employees, which was formed in 1994 following the merger of International Airports Authority of India and National Airports Authority of India. Due to this there is a strong resentment among the employees as they are being denied their legitimate rights," AAEU General Secretary Balraj Singh Ahlawat said.

He said over 20,000 employees are suffering due to management's "lackadaisical attitude".

The union office bearers staged hunger strike here at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, the headquarters of the Civil Aviation Ministry and AAI, and at various other places in the country.

The AAEU, which is the biggest union of the AAI employees with a membership of around 12,500, has also been protesting against the "unilateral change" in their pension option.

The employees' union is also objecting to government's plan to entrust maintenance work of the Kolkata and Chennai airport terminals, built by the AAI, through PPP model.

Besides, the AAEU is opposed to separation of Air Navigation Service from the AAI, saying it would take away the mini-ratna status of AAI.