Sena-backed AI unions stage protest at Mumbai airport

Demands included withdrawal of show-cause notices to about 40 cabin crew members and hiring of more such crew to meet the shortage

A large number of Air India employees, under the banner of unions affiliated to the Shiv Sena’s Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, on Tuesday staged a demonstration at the airport in Mumbai to press for their demands including taking back on duty some of the de-rostered cabin crew members.

The protesters, including cabin crew, ground handling staff and loaders, gathered at the domestic airport and staged a demonstration for over two hours.

Flight operations were, however, not affected due to the protest, an Air India spokesperson said. Later, airline’s regional management and a Shiv Sena delegation under party MP Sanjay Raut held a meeting to resolve the issue.

The delegation also submitted a 14-point charter of demand to the airline's regional management here.

"We hope that all the genuine issues will be addressed and a concrete solution be brought out and adhered by Air India management," Raut said.

Their demands also included withdrawal of show-cause notices to about 40 cabin crew members and hiring of more such crew to meet the shortage.

"The delegation submitted its demands and the regional management put across its view-point on the issue during the meeting. Now a final call will be taken by the top management," Air India sources said.     Speakers at the demonstration claimed that about 18 cabin crew had been suspended without the management giving them any notice or conducting an enquiry and demanded that they be taken back immediately.

The protesters included both permanent employees and those on contract.

Mumbai High Court had yesterday restrained the union from holding any kind of morcha or protest march or rally or illegal assembly within 500 meters of its operating locations and offices. The protesters, however, continued their demonstration till the afternoon.