Airline Security Staff on Strike

Alleging no revision had taken place in their pay for the last five years, no provident fund, no medical facilities, no identity cards and a ‘step-sisterly’ behavior by the Indian Airlines, over 500 contractual employees, across the country, of Indian Airlines Air Transport Services Ltd, a subsidiary company responsible for the security of at least 60 international airlines, have threatened to go on strike from June 1. There are 300 staff on contract in Delhi. Protesting employees are demanding permanent employee status. They're just demanding for usual employee benefits like provident fund, medical facilities and the renewal of identity cards. With the kind of hard work and effort they put in providing the best possible services, doesn't seems they are asking for too much. They definitely deserve decent treatment & proper compensation.

As a mark of protest, the employees have been wearing black ribbons since May 20 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. On June 1, employees will protest at the international terminal, then at the domestic terminal on June 2, and later at the Indian Airlines office. The strike is likely to affect air services as the contractual employees hired by the Indian Airlines Air Transport Services Ltd are responsible for X-ray and baggage clearing facilities at the passenger, cargo and courier terminals for several international airlines. The move can bring international flights to a complete standstill at Delhi and other international airports across the country. Hopefully the authorities and the government will be able to understand the grimness situation. They should be sensible enough to take corrective decision and make the conditions better for these employees so that they can continue providing the best services satisfactorily.