AAI staff protest against bid to privatise airports

Over 500 employees of Airports Authority of India on Wednesday staged a protest in front of the airport here, as a part of their all India agitation against the Centre’s attempt to privatise airports across the country, sources said. Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy and Union President S R 

Santhanam led the protests in Chennai and shouted slogans against the government, they said.

AAI employees have been protesting against the government's attempt to privatise over 125 airports across the country. The Civil Aviation Ministry had submitted before the Madras High Court that its move to privatise the management of Chennai Airport was aimed at ensuring international standards and it was a policy decision by the government.

The court had on January 29 restrained the authorities from processing any further with regard to the RFQ (Request for Qualification) invited from private parties for the management of Chennai Airport.

The union had submitted that service conditions of employees including the tenure, remuneration, superannuation benefits and other conditions were governed and protected by the AAI Act whereas the proposed move under the impugned RFQ will affect their future.