On 12 th June, 2007 at 9 o’clock in the night, the employees of the government owned Indian Airlines (now renamed as Indian) went on a flash strike all over India. The employees had been agitating for a new wage settlement which was due for the last 10 years! The strike was called to force the authorities to give in to the employees’ demands. The staff of the commercial department, the ticketing staff, the airport handling staff, the ground handling staff, the safai kamgars and cabin crew participated in this all-India action. By 13 th May morning all flights of Indian were disrupted with 12,500 employees participating. The Minister of Civil Aviation, Praful Patel, threatened to impose the draconian ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) and locking out Indian. Suspension orders were issued to hundreds of activists. The management obtained an order from the Delhi High Court declaring the strike illegal and banning workers from gathering anywhere within 500 metres of the airport premises.

But the employees refused to be cowed down by these fascist tactics and determined to continue their agitation. Seeing the determined stand of the employees, the Government and management were forced to give in to the employees’ demands and on June 14 th concluded a new wage settlement. Due to the militant agitation of the employees, they won a substantial wage revision and arrears for the last seven years were agreed to be paid over a period of 18 months.

The wage revision had been delayed for 10 years mainly due to the vacillating stands taken by the leadership of the Union, the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU). On 27 th January 2007, in fresh elections to the Central leadership of the Union, the old committee was overthrown and a new committee was elected. The employees under the leadership of this committee put forth a fresh charter of demands. On the 17 th of May a 2 ½ hour mass walkout was organised all over India. This was a massive success and showed the unity of the employees and their determination to achieve their just and long delayed demands.

People’s Voice congratulates the employees of Indian for the successes achieved in this struggle. At the same time it calls on the employees and the Union activists to note the trends emerging in the airlines industry. Whereas a few years ago there were many players in the Indian domestic aviation industry, the trend nowadays is towards concentration and formation of monopoly groups. The recent merger of Indian Airlines and Air India, Jet Airways and Sahara, the proposed merger of Kingfisher and Deccan Airways are indicators of this trend. This will, no doubt, impose greater pressures on the job security and rights of the employees. The employees of Indian Airlines have to be greatly vigilant of such moves and step up their united struggle in defence of their livelihood and rights.