Air India unions threaten strike before the Tata takeover

There is turbulence before take-off for Air India's takeover by the Tata Group. Reports indicate the ground staff and engineers of Air India have threatened to go on strike from November 2 over a government decision which requires them to vacate office quarters in six months after the sale of airline.

A letter with the strike notice says AI employees got a notice on October 5 asking for an undertaking that the residence will be vacated in 6 months of Air India being privatised. Air India has a colony near the Mumbai Airport in Kalina as well as in he upmarket residential area of Vasant Vihar in Delhi.

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"We urge you to intercede on behalf of the Air Indians who reside in these colonies to allow them to reside in them for a reasonable period of at least a year. Since the new buyer is providing employees with a one-year employment guarantee, the colony facility should at least be co-terminus with that date, if not until VRS is provided, " the joint action forum comprising of pilots, cabin crew and ground staff unions said in a letter to aviation ministry.