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Airports Authority Employees Union started a relay hunger strike to protest the proposed privatisation of operations of Chennai airport.
The Airports Authority of India has initiated the process of privatisation of the Chennai airport.
Potential bidders are expected to submit their Request for Qualification (RFQ) on November 4.
By January, the airport will be handed over to the private company, according to officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at Chennai.
According to L. George, Regional Secretary, AAEU, the fate of over 1,000 employees of Chennai airport remains uncertain with privatisation of the airport gathering momentum. However, there is no clarity in the RFQ document given to private companies regarding airport employees — whether they will be absorbed by the private company or retained by AAI.
“We hope Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa will interfere and stop the airport going to a private company,” he said.
The Centre has decided to first privatise Chennai airport, and then take up other airports, including Kolkata. The fate of nearly 25,000 employees in 125 AAI run airports are at stake, George said. Nearly 25 employees started the relay hunger strike, which will go on for the next four days.
During lunch, nearly 200 employees joined the group to take part in the ‘lunch hour’ demonstration.
PTI reports
Meanwhile, thousands of employees of AAI today started a relay hunger strike across the country to protest against the Government’s move to privatise six airports.
The employees associated with various unions of AAI formed a joint forum and started the three-day-long strike in front of the Civil Aviation Ministry at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan in New Delhi and at AAI offices across the country.
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