Kathmandu, Apr.17:Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation Employee Union started its protest programmes beginning today with its officials tying black-band while during work protesting what they call their management’s indifference toward their demands.

“We have had no choice but to begin the protest since the files of our demands have gathered dust in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and we have many a time been assured by the Board of Directors of RNAC that our demands will be met,” the union has stated in a letter it submitted to the Chairman of RNAC some ten days ago.

“Even as our Board of Directors had decided on our demands some ten months ago and the files had reached the Ministry, the management never became serious to follow up the issue, that’s why we have resorted to pressure tactics,” said N.B Rai, Chairman of the union.

The union’s demands include introducing service regulatory in the corporation, settling the back logs of employees’ promotion, purchasing new aircraft to end the practice of short term lease, regulating RNAC’s financial dealings, among others.

“On the top we would like to see an official vision to run the RNAC,” said Rai. “The protest we have planned does not disturb the regular functioning of our corporation.”

After holding the black-band tying under the first phase of its protest for another 12 days, the union plans to declare the second phase of protest – if its demand still remains unfulfilled.