Nagpur airport cargo staff strike over pay cuts, resume work after GMR assurance

Workers handling cargo at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur stopped work suddenly, accusing a third-party contractor of long-standing financial exploitation, disregard of government rules and a recent arbitrary cut in wages. About 70 employees locked the cargo office and went on strike.

After the strike, GMR management held a meeting with senior officials and assured the workers that the amounts deducted from their pay would be credited to their accounts by tomorrow. Management also sought time until Monday to resolve the remaining issues.

Following the assurance, the employees called off their agitation and returned to work in the night shift. However, with work halted through the day, airlines' cargo services were badly affected all day.

According to information received, about 25 tonnes of inbound and outbound cargo moves through Nagpur airport every day, and these workers play the main role in handling it. With all of them on strike together, cargo services had come close to a complete halt. Supplies of life-saving medicines, medical shipments and other essential items were also hit significantly. GMR therefore took the matter seriously, assured the workers, sought time until Monday and brought them back to work.

Cargo handling at the airport is with a third-party company, Raur Roadways. The company earlier worked on contract under MIHAN and now works under GMR. The employees, who have been working there for about four years, allege that they are continuously denied basic rights and facilities.

The employees claim that, under the rules, they should receive an in-hand salary of at least Rs 18,000, but are paid only Rs 12,000 to Rs 13,000. They also said deductions of Rs 1,700 to Rs 3,000 were made from salaries without any solid reason being given, which caused widespread anger among them.

The employees also said the company gives no one an official salary slip and that payment is made against vouchers. PF is deducted but not deposited in their accounts. For work as hazardous as cargo handling, there is no accident insurance or any other emergency safety arrangement.

These cargo loaders and screeners are fully responsible for booking, screening, segregation and trolley loading of cargo for IndiGo, Air India and other major airlines. If the strike recurs, essential medicines and medical equipment travelling to and from various hospitals and cancer centres in Nagpur could be held up. If loading and unloading of at least 25 tonnes of cargo a day to and from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities stops, airlines could also suffer heavy losses.