Chennai airport cargo workers' strike ends on union federation orders

THE week-long strike by more than 1,500 air cargo workers at Chennai Airport was called off by All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) after causing "chaos" on 50 flights and directly affecting telecom and car manufacturer supply chains.

The stoppage began January 9 on grounds of insecure working conditions despite an agreed monthly wage increase by the AITUC of INR200 (US$3.60). Those workers striking were assured that deductions would not be made. However, the AITUC president admitted the pay rise was not a written agreement, but that bonus negotiation talks would take place immediately.

"We will strike again if our demands are not met in the future talks with the management," a workers' spokesman told World Socialist Web Site (WSWS), a Trotskyist group.

The airport authority had asked police to replace the strikers, giving replacement workers security clearance. Chennai airport did consider resorting to the Essential Service Maintenance Act to outlaw the strike with a court case scheduled just days after AITUC shut down the strike.