AAI, MIAL victimising workers, says Union

Mumbai May 2 (UNI) Representatives of six airport worker unions today alleged mass victimisation of AAI workers, by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL), stating that some 70 'so-called contract' workers were removed from their jobs by the AAI allegedly on the instructions from MIAL.

The unions include Indian Airports Employee Union, Indian Airports Kamgar Union, Indian Airports Employees Union, Airports Kamgar Union, AAI SC/ST Association and Krantkari Surakksha Rakshak Sangh.

Claiming that they are all unions of the permanent and contract workers employed in the AAI at Mumbai, the six unions in a signed statement issued here today, said the MIAL and AAI have turned the heat of privatisation on the workers by resorting to this step.

According to the statement, most of these workers have been employed in the AAI for the past almost 20 years. However, 1993 onwards the contractors have been removed and the workers have been continuing directly under the AAI.

''Most of these workers have their services protected by the High Court of Mumbai's orders and even today the orders continue.

The claim of the workers before the courts continue to be against the AAI and even 9 months since privatisation, AAI has been paying these workers,'' the statement said.

''However last month, the AAI suddenly claimed that MIAL must now directly pay them. This, in spite of the fact that there is an express clause in the agreement between the AAI and MIAL that all cases which were pending prior to privatisation will continue to be the responsibility of the AAI and also that the workers wages will be paid to AAI by MIAL from a corpus created, and AAI will disburse the same to the workers,'' the statement further said.

According to the agreement, as claimed by the unions, all AAI workers at Mumbai Airport are to continue to be the employees of AAI for a period of three years, at the end of which MIAL will offer jobs to 60 per cent of them. Those who don't join MIAL will continue to be the employees of the AAI and will be shifted accordingly.

''However, April 4 this year, following the demand of the AAI that MIAL must now pay these directly employed workers who are working under court orders, the Senior Manager HR Mr M P Singh of the MIAL directed the AAI to remove these workers from the airports by taking away their security passes. The AAI has unceremoniously done so, inspite of the restraining orders of the High Court,'' the union representatives alleged.

The statement also claimed that according to their agreement, MIAL may ask the AAI to remove any worker from his job for reasons such as consistent negligence or indiscipline, but subject to due process of law.

''Of course for a dispute between them they cannot remove the workers,'' the statement alleged.

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