MUMBAI: Air India (AI) employees had to submit an undertaking by Wednesday that they will vacate staff quarters within six weeks of privatization.
But with three AI unions and the management set to begin conciliatory talks next week at the labour commissioner’s office, the deadline for submission was extended.
A joint action committee of AI unions threatened an indefinite strike from November 2 in protest against the decision to get quarters vacated. On Monday, the deputy chief labour commissioner sent the strike notice to AI and fixed a meeting between both parties for October 27. A status quo will be maintained, said a unions’ circular to members, urging them to not to submit the undertaking.
On October 5, AI had told over 7,000 staff to submit the undertaking by October 20 that they will vacate quarters in six months post-privatisation. In its strike notice, unions said colonies are on land leased in perpetuity by AAI to AI. Mumbai airport is a tenant, and there is no reason for AI to vacate the colonies in a hurry and hand over the land to Mumbai airport, it said.
