UNI

Mumbai, Jun 13: Passengers at all airports across the country are likely to suffer as nearly 15,000 employees of government-owned Indian (Airlines) are on a flash strike.

Frontline staff manning the counters, loader, cleaners and cabin crew went on strike last night after talks between the airline's management and the biggest union failed.

The Air Corporation Employees Union accused the management of going back on its assurances for wage arrears and better promotional prospects.

Indian, which recently merged with Air India, also manages ground-handling operations for 26 international airlines, which will most certainly be hit by the stoppage of work.

''They are not paying our arrears for the past 10 years,'' said ACEU's general secretary Arun Kumar. ''That's why we've decided to go on this strike. We had gone on a strike before also, and the management had assured us then that our demands will be met. But nothing has happened so far,'' he added.

Kumar said the management is willing to pay arrears for the past seven years only while the commitment is of 10 years. The amount for financially-ailing airline totals up to Rs 800 crore (Rs 8 billion).