The 300 contractual security and commercial staff of Air India went on an indefinite strike demanding better pay package and medical benefits even as the airlines management terminated the services of 21 such employees. "We are going on indefinite strike after the management did not pay heed to our demands and terminated the contracts of 21 employees yesterday," said Jeet Singh,president of the Indian Airlines Limited-Airport Services Limited (IAL-ASL) Employees Union. Nearly 300 contractual security and commercial workers of Air India boycotted work at Amritsar,Jaipur and other airports and also staged a demonstration at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here in support of their demand of a better pay package and medical benefits. A Royal Nepal Airlines flight to Kathmandu was delayed by about three hours on Tuesday due to ongoing strike by the security and commercial staff. About 200 security staff have the responsibility of checking the aircraft,baggage and also keep a vigil on the aircraft and areas surrounding it so that no one makes an unauthorised entry. They also handle baggage of several international airlines like Malaysian,Sri Lankan,Nepal,and Pakistan International Airlines,Air Arabia and Ariana Afghan. The workers,many of whom joined in 2004,claimed they felt cheated as they were unaware about who their employer is,as the advertisements of employment were published in 2004 by erstwhile Indian Airlines. Even the tests and interviews were conducted by them but they got their appointment letter from its subsidiary Alliance. The employees also alleged that they were meted out step-motherly treatment by the airline's permanent staff. The employees whose contracts have been terminated by the management said that "they were given the termination letter on plain paper without the company's logo and seal,and it also does not have the name of the issuing authority. Singh said that labour commissioner has summoned the airlines management on the issue.
