Air India ground handling staff protest service terms

Thiruvananthapuram, June 4 (IANS) Employees of Air India Air Transport Services Ltd (AIATSL) at the international airport here are up in arms against the new service conditions they have been offered after the company hived off the ground handling and cargo handling services.

The Air India-Singapore Airport Terminal Services Ltd (AISATS) has given 40 AIATSL employees three options - to join AISATS at the entry level, to opt a transfer to any other station where AIATSL is functioning or to join AIATSL security here on afresh contract.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Apr 12 approved the turnaround plan of Air India and gave the nod for the operationalisation of the subsidiary AIATSL and to hive off the ground handling activities to this subsidiary.

"But what has happened is that it has been given to the AISATS," an employee said, adding that this had been brought to the notice of the Central Vigilance Commission.

But the AISATS spokesperson in an email told IANS that the company is a 50:50 joint venture between Air India Limited (formerly known as NACIL) and SATS Ltd (formerly known as Singapore Airport Terminal Services). SATS was selected by AI through a competitive bidding process, with the approval of the Indian government.

"AISATS welcomes AIATSL staff to join us, as demonstrated in our other business units across Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mangalore. However, we will be guided by the decision of AI management on the employees of AIATSL," the spokesperson said.

AISATS pointed out that it is working with Air India to acquire the existing equipment at the market valuation and has also invested in new equipment at the Thiruvananthapuram airport to the tune of RS.50 million to enhance the service.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has written to Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, and urged him to ensure that these employees are given a fair deal.