Strike across India's airports begins

Posted 03 13 2008 2:23AM

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Thousands of staff began an indefinite strike at 127 airports across India on Wednesday, but flights from Mumbai and New Delhi were unaffected, according to officials.

About 14,000 union members are striking over the imminent closure of two airports in Hyderabad and Bangalore, both home to many of India's software and outsourcing companies, to make way for modern, privately-run facilities.

The striking workers are mostly employed in airport support services and include electricians, plumbers, cleaners, engineers and emergency fire support staff.

Most of the striking employees stayed away from work in airports across India, causing problems to passengers as toilets remained uncleaned and heaps of garbage piled up in some places.

About 1,000 employees did not report in the morning at the domestic airport in Chennai, officials said.

"We are putting into operation contingency plans now," Dinesh Kumar, the airport director said in Chennai on Wednesday.

However, flight operations were normal in big cities, including New Delhi, Arun Arora, the Airports Authority of India spokesman said.

Unlike most airports in India, New Delhi and Mumbai are already privately-run and union influence is weak.

In Kolkata hundreds of employees did not turn up for work, many waving flags and shouting slogans against authorities, officials said.

"It is a total non-cooperation from our side," Deepankar Ghosh, a union leader said.

In Kolkata, as well as Hyderabad, where authorities plan to shut down the old airport, several aged passengers were seen carrying their own baggage as there was no one to help them, officials and witnesses said.

"I cancelled my planned business trip to Jaipur because of the strike today. I hope everything gets resolved very soon," Ashok Parmar, 40, said by telephone from Kolkata.

Over 470 air force personnel were deployed in 21 major airports in the country to help in flight operations, officials said.

New airports with better facilities built by private developers are due to open soon in Hyderabad and Bangalore cities.

The union members fear once private operators take over, staff at the old airports could lose their jobs or get moved elsewhere.

Although, authorities have said that no staff would lose their jobs as they will be needed at other airports in the country, union members disagree.

"These are all lies and the government must not shut down the old airports," M.K. Ghoshal, the leader of striking union said.