Airport Officers To Go Slow From Tomorrow

After the air traffic controllers (ATCs), the National Airport Authority Officers Association has decided to go-slow from February 5.

This is likely to paralyse domestic air services.

In a strongly-worded letter to Union civil aviation minister C M Ibrahim and Airport Authority of India (AAI) chairman Ranjan Chatterjee, the officers have said the AAI is employing discriminatory practices against them.

Copies of the letter have been sent to Prime Minister I K Gujral, President K R Naraynan, civil aviation secretary M K Kaw, director general for civil aviation H S Khola and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

The association, which is responsible for equipment used by the ATCs and other facilities at domestic airports, has warned that failures or problems related to navigational aids, radars, communication, fire safety arising as a result of the go-slow will be the sole responsibility of the AAI board.

 

Elaborating on AAIs discriminatory policies, the association said while an agreement signed by AAI with it in December 1997 is yet to be implemented, the AAI has implemented most agreements signed with the ATCs.

In a meeting held on December 24, 1997, AAI board members had promised to work out packages for other cadres. However, no action has been taken on this, the association has said.

Sources said that a go-slow by the airport officers along with the ATCs agitation could result in air travelling becoming a security risk and that people should think twice before flying.

The government is yet to initiate action on either problem. The Essential Services Maintenance Act ordinance has not been issued with regard to the ATCs, who are due to meet today to decide whether to resume their partial strike.