Future bleak for staff

uture bleak for staff
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: While Bangalore’s air passengers are trying to get used to the idea of a new airport on the city outskirts, things are still unclear for the fringe employees at HAL airport.
Some stories from the “other side” were told by HAL’s trolley retrievers, who face an uncertain future. Govindaraj, who has been working in the airport for 20 years, says the trolley retrievers cannot settle for anything less than employment at the new airport. “This is all that we know and we’ve been doing for years together. If we are denied jobs here, our families will be hit badly,” he says.
N Lokesh, another trolley retriever, says while young employees can find alternative jobs and can jump careers, the curtains will fall on senior employees whose livelihood depends entirely on their jobs. There are around 120 trolley retrievers employed on contract at the HAL airport.
The airport’s cease of operations could mean unemployment for around 200 Airports Authority of India staff as well. The trolley retrievers say an “informal” word has been passed on for employment with the BIAL after they expressed dissent over the “unemployment issue”.
A retriever sees the move as an “eyewash” by the authorities to ensure that work does not get disrupted during the last days of the airport. While many trolley retrievers maintain that employment in BIAL is all they want, there are also the ones who are not keen on shifting to Devanahalli.
Vendors who run refreshment stalls at the HAL terminal are still waiting for the official word before finalising alternate plans. “We have to look out but till date, nothing has been conveyed to us officially. Even if some flights are retained, there’s no point in continuing here,” says Sanjeev, who has been running a coffee shop for four years.