4-day airport strike called off

The four-day old strike by more than 20,000 airport employees was called off  today evening after a written assurance from the government that it would go into the issue of workers' job security on account of modernisation.

The strike against the modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports by private developers was called off shortly after the strike leaders met civil aviation minister Praful Patel.

"In view of the assurances given by the government, I, as convener, call off the strike," M K Ghosal, convener of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) Employees Joint Forum, announced at a gathering of striking workers in front of the Delhi airport.

The agitating workers are expected to join duty according to their shifts with immediate effect, leaders said.

"On the basis of assurances given to the leaders, I am confident  that the strike will be called off, and full normalcy restored in the next few hours," civil aviation minister Patel said after discussions with the leaders at around 1500 hours.

He said the leaders have been given assurances that there would be no victimisation of those who participated in the strike, and there would be no job loss for anyone due to the modernisation process.

Patel held discussions with M K Ghosal, convener of the Airport Authority of India Employees Joint Forum, CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta and CITU leader M K Pandhe.

During the 90-minute meeting, the leaders were given a written guarantee on the assurances including constitution of a tripartite committee to go into the issues raised by the employees and also the proposals for modernisation of other airports given by the AAI and employees.