By IANS
New Delhi : Around 12,000 employees of Indian Airlines went on an indefinite nationwide strike late Tuesday, demanding pay hikes and payment of arrears, affecting several in-bound flights.
The ground staff, security personnel and baggage handlers of the state-run carrier Tuesday night decided to go on the strike after failure of the ongoing talks between the management and employees union.
"We decided to go on strike after the management failed to meet our long pending demands," J.K. Badola, general secretary of the Air Corporation Employees Union, said.
However, the management said the strike was illegal as talks with the employees union were inconclusive.
Indian spokesman Anil Sharma told IANS: "The matter was before the Regional Labour Commissioner and talks were on, but they chose to go strike, which is illegal. We are still interacting with the union leaders."
Sharma added that the management was making efforts to resolve the strike at the earliest.
Several in-bound Indian Airlines flights were affected due to the strike.
"There would be difficulties during the flight arrival as the baggage staff is also on strike. We are advising the passengers to fly light and not to carry heavy luggage and are making efforts so that passengers suffer minimum inconvenience," he added.