Workers at the soon-to-be-privatised Delhi airport plan to stop work yesterday in protest at the government?s move to allow private companies to modernise the shabby airport, a union leader said. ?We are not going for work. All workers will protest against this decision,? Jaipal Singh, assistant general secretary of the Airports Authority Employees? Union, told Reuters yesterday. ?All staff, except for air traffic controllers, will stop work at 10:00 am?.

Early morning flights were on schedule but those during the day are likely to be affected because of the protests. On Tuesday, the coalition government awarded the much delayed and controversial contracts to modernise and revamp the run-down airports in New Delhi and Mumbai consortia including private and overseas companies.

The move has angered the government?s communist allies, who provide key support in parliament, and workers, who fear massive job losses. The civil aviation ministry awarded the contract for New Delhi airport to a consortium led by India?s GMR group which has entered into a collaboration with German airport operator Fraport.

For the Mumbai airport revamp, the bid was won by a group led by India?s GVK Industries Ltd. and the Airports Company of South Africa. Singh said the unions were not against modernisation of the airports, but wanted the work to be carried out by the government and not by private parties. ?We want modernisation, but we want to do it ourselves.? Airport staff in Mumbai, the financial hub, and in Kolkata will join the protests.