Saturday, February 4 2006 17:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The four-day old strike by more than 20,000 airport employees that turned the airports into near garbage dumps was called off this evening after a written assurance from the Government that it would go into the issue of workers' job security on account of modernisation.

The strike against the modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports by private developers that barely affected flight schedules but led to uncleared filth and garbage and overflewing sewers was called off this evening shortly after the strike leaders met Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

"In view of the assurances given by the Government, I as Convener call off the strike," M K Ghosal, Convener of the Airport Authority of India Employees Joint Forum, announced at a gathering of striking workers in front of the Delhi airport.

The agitating workers are expected to join duty according to their shifts with immediate effect, strike leaders said.

Earlier breaking the news after his meeting with a three-member delegation of strike leaders, Patel said he was confident that the strike would be called off and normalcy restored in airports following his assurances.

The strike leaders had yesterday(Feb 3,2006) met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who appealed to the employees to return to work in national interest.