AI strike: On 5th day, CMD requests pilots to return

In an attempt to bring their pilots’ strike to an end, the Air India management has requested the other staff unions to persuade the former to return to work and discussion. The other unions seemed willing to try.

In a letter and SMS to all employees, AI Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav said: “In order to save our airline, I appeal to you to cooperate and to persuade our pilot friends to return to work & discussions — let us start afresh.”

This is the first time since the strike began that the government-owned airline has tried persuasion. On earlier occasions, the management and civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi had categorically said there’d be no talks till the strike was called off. For the record, this was reiterated even after Jadhav’s appeal, with an airline spokesperson saying there’d be no talks with the pilots till they rejoined.

The SMS says the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) struck work illegally, for pay increase & parity (of erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots, represented by the ICPA, with those of the erstwhile Air India, which only operated flights abroad).

“This, when a Supreme Court judge is studying this issue. Risking our airline survival at this time is criminal,” it reads. The current administration, it adds, cannot be held responsible for erroneous policies by predecessors. The other unions have welcomed this move by the management and said they’d talk to the pilots to call off the strike and that a truce was possible if both sides relented a bit.

“All of us (unions) will be sending a joint letter and and try to convince the striking pilots union, requesting them to get back to work and on the discussion table because any strike ultimately impacts the airline,” said Sanjay Lazar, general secretary, Air India Cabin Crew Association.

Another union representative, who did not want to be identified, said it was a good move by the management.

“This disparity has been continuing for so many years before Jadhav joined. The pilots should come on the discussion table and I am sure the management will cancel the termination of (dismissed) pilots. If need be, we can also talk to management on this,” said a representative.

HC HEARING TODAY
The pilots are to appear tomorrow before the Delhi High Court to reply to a contempt of court notice, for disobeying an earlier order to resume duty.

The carrier reduced its operation to 40 flights across its network against the regular 320. This is less than the 52 flights the airline operated yesterday.

“Air India is successfully operating all its flights on the long-haul routes to/from USA, UK, Europe, South East Asia (Japan, Korea, Hong Kong), China and the Gulf. All flight operations of Air India’s subsidiaries, Air India Express and Alliance Air, were also on schedule, with no disruptions. About 50 international flights, 75 Gulf flights and 42 regional flights operated as scheduled,” said an official statement.