Thousands of Indian workers strike to protest airport privatization

NEW DELHI -- Thousands of airport workers backed by civil servants and state-run bank and insurance company employees held a one-day nationwide strike Thursday to protest government privatization plans they fear will affect their jobs.

The 12-hour strike of nearly 20,000 workers was focused mainly on India's airports, where more than 35 percent of flights were canceled, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. The strikers were mostly from communist-led trade unions.

"Strike is our only remaining weapon to stop this unnecessary privatization of our airports," said Nitin Jadhav, a leader of the union of the state-run Airport Authority of India.

India plans to let private companies run the New Delhi and Bombay airports on 30-year leases. Both airports have long been criticized for their inefficiency and lack of comfort.

Private domestic airlines canceled dozens of flights despite an assurance by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel that the government would maintain normal air services. The government used the air force, navy and paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force to provide ground crews and technicians for flights by the two state-run airlines, Air-India and Indian Airlines.

The airport in the eastern city of Calcutta, capital of West Bengal state where the Communist Party of India has long dominated politics, was the worst hit. Only two flights operated from the airport all day, the news agency reported.

The Confederation of Indian Industry, a leading trade group, expressed disappointment over the aviation strike.

"The strike came at a time when India's aviation and tourism industries have emerged as strong pillars of the national economy," the CII said in a statement. "It is imperative that the growth momentum in these sectors be sustained, and not derailed."

In some regions, protesters from state-run banking and insurance companies, government offices, schools and transportation workers went on strike in support of the airport workers. Strikes in West Bengal state paralyzed train and bus services.