Report of a correspondent of Workers Unity Movement
There are over 800 cargo workers in Chennai Airport, under the Airport Authority of India Cargo Area Logistics and Allied Services Company (AAICLAS). They include loaders, fork lift operators and supervisors. They handle all the import and export of cargo at Chennai Airport. Many of these workers have been working for over 20-25 years under the Airport Authority of India. They are employed as contract workers by Omega Enterprises, a contractor who provides manpower for the cargo operations. The contractor has also hired about 300 more workers recently.
These workers are forced to work in 12-hour shifts involving back breaking and exhausting work. In the last few years, the workers’ strength has been reduced to one third, greatly increasing the work load on the existing workers in the cargo complex. Other than Sundays, they do not get any leave or holidays. Even if they take leave for a day, their pay is cut for 1 and a half days. Workers are paid very low wages, hardly enough to meet the high cost of living. They are victims of savage exploitation.
Unable to bear these terrible conditions, the cargo workers have decided to unite to fight for their rights. They have formed a Union named Chennai Vimana Nilaya Cargo Thozhilalargal Sangam (Chennai Airport Cargo Workers Union).
As soon as the workers formed the Union, the management terminated nine activists who are office bearers of the Union.
As per Industrial Disputes Act 1947, this is a violation of workers’ rights and considered ‘unfair labour practice’, which is a punishable offence. The Union has asked the management to withdraw the termination and discuss the demands of the workers. However, the management is refusing to do so.
It must be noted that AAICLAS is the principal employer and is responsible in law for ensuring that the rights of its employees are not violated. The Union is demanding that AAICLAS take back the dismissed workers, and regularise all the contract workers.
The cargo workers have held many gate meetings to protest the attacks of the management on their right to form a Union. They are determined to have the terminated workers reinstated as well as win their right to form a Union of their choice.
Workers Unity Movement supports the just struggle of the Chennai Airport Cargo workers.