Date:06/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/06/stories/2008070661350300.htm

Kerala

Protest rally against airline labour policy

A Correspondent

NEDUMBASSERY: The CITU area committee held a rally of party workers at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) against the Air India management here on Saturday. They were registering their support to the labourers of the Air India Casual Employees Association (ACEA).

The march, which began from the central gate of the airport moved to the Air India office located inside the CIAL complex, was blocked at the cargo gate by a team of police. Later, the protestors sat down on the road and a meeting was held. Inaugurating the meeting, M.M. Lawrence, CITU state secretary, urged the airline management to meet the demands raised by the casual labourers at the earliest. CPI(M) central committee member M.C. Josephine and P.S. Shyla, district panchayat president, were also among those who addressed the gathering.

The ACEA has been on a relay hunger strike at the central gate of the airport since June 21 in protest against the apparent indifference of the Air India management to meet their demands of better pay and working environment.