I, Omkar Singh, General Secretary of a registered trade union in the name BWFS Karamchari Union representing the majority of workers employed by one of the largest ramp handling companies in New Delhi, Terminal-3, IGI Airport. The company's name is Bird World Wide Flight Services Pvt.Ltd., having its registered office in E-9, Connaught House, Connaught Place, New Delhi - 110 001, The name of the Managing Director is Mr. Gaurav Bhatia.

The employees of Bird World Wide Flight Services Pvt. Ltd., formed a union in 2013 with the Registrar of Trade Unions, New Delhi under the registration No.DRTU/2013/32/SWD dated 7th August 2013 and immediately on forming the Union, the management of Bird WorldWide Flight Services Pvt.Ltd., terminated the services of 11 union workers including me from the services.  Most of the unionized workers belong to the poorest section of the society and were/are engaged as loaders and utility workers not even earning the Government of India's notified minimum wages.

Nevertheless, BWFS Karamchari Union, with the illegally terminated union workers submitted its "Charter of Demands" in October 2013.  However, the Managing Director, Mr. Gaurav Bhatia neither prepared to give recognition to the Union nor did he accept the "Charter of Demands" to formulate proper service conditions and wage structure for the workers.

BWFS Karamchari Union moved the conciliation proceedings with the Labour Department in New Delhi and prior to the hearing before the Labour Department, the management of Bird Worldwide Flight Services Pvt.Ltd., provoked some workers and very cleverly declared the peaceful agitation of the workers as striking workers and terminated the services of 150 more workers.  However, with the intervention of the Labour Department, 105 workers were reinstated but 45 workers are still jobless till date.

Since then, BWFS Karamchari Union has approached the Prime Minister's office, Ministry of Labour and Employment but justice is still eluding them.

Bird World Wide Flight Services' management has been extremely repressive since then and reports of unfair labour practices, regular victimization, mental and at times physical intimidation have become norms.  Since all the workers are issued with Airport Entry Passes to get access to the passenger and cargo terminals, refusal of duty without assigning any reasons render the victimized workers to be declared as absconding from duty, an easy ploy adopted by the management and is being rampantly used.  Using abusive language by the middle management is a routine affair.

Since the conciliation process, legal recourse in the courts are difficult to manage financially particularly for the illegally retrenched workers (10+45+55), the management is taking full advantage of the situation as such proceedings are time consuming and make years to settle.

Having left with no other choice, I, Omkar Singh, General Secretary, appeal to all to file a petition with Mr. Gaurav Bhatia with a request that BWFS Karamchari Union wants him to honor the right to union, immediate reinstatement of illegally terminated workers (10+45=55), stop victimization of union workers and honouring the "Charter of Demands" submitted to the management to formulate proper service conditions and wage structure in accordance with the Government of India's labour policies.