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India's flights on schedule despite no-show protest

Thousands of Indian airport maintenance employees failed to show up at work yesterday to protest against the opening of two private airports, but the move put only a slight dent in operations.

Taps began running dry in some airports, litter was visible and baggage trolleys were scarce, travelers said, but airport officials said flights were still operating on schedule.

The workers are upset over plans to open a US$420 million airport this weekend in the southern city of Hyderabad and a US$630 million facility at the end of the month in India's outsourcing capital of Bangalore.

A top union official said that he expected most of the group's 15,000 members working at 127 airports managed by the state-run Airports Authority of India to eventually join in the strike.

"The employees are not happy," Airports Authority Employees Union official Manas Ghoshal said. "Management has deployed unskilled, unknown persons and they are managing the show, but it may lead to some risks for the passengers."

Airport management said airports were operating normally.

"All the officers are there," said Airports Authority of India spokesman T. Premnath.

"If we need to we will hire casual laborers," he said.

The employees taking part in the "non-cooperation movement" -- an Indian court ruled an airline workers' strike illegal last year, leading to the union avoiding using the word -- included cleaners, plumbers and airbridge operators.

The government has already brought in almost 500 air force personnel at 21 airports to help out, a Press Trust of Indian news agency report said.

Workers started the indefinite action across the country at midnight.

The action followed the failure of talks between workers and authorities over the move to close existing airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad to commercial air traffic once the new privately-run facilities there open.

The union has strongly opposed privatization of India's dilapidated airports amid fears of job losses.

The government has said employees at the two airports will not lose their jobs and the facilities will remain open for other activities, such as VIP travel.

The government also insists privatization is needed to modernize India's airports, with the Airports Authority of India short of funds.

The country needs to spend US$9.6 billion over five years to improve airports, the government agency said, which expects 100 million people to fly this year in India compared with 43 million four years ago.
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