Jet Airways pilots to go on strike

The National Aviators Guild (NAG) has decided to go ahead with their strike if the management does not come with any satisfactory reply till September 7, 2009. However, the strike would be illegal, if the guild goes ahead with it even when the conciliation meetings are on.

“The airline management has been asked by the labour commissioner to come with a reply on the termination of pilots by September 7, 2009. If they do not come with any satisfactory reply or reinstate the terminated pilots, we will go ahead with our strike,” said the NAG representative.

Jet Airways management and the NAG, the recently formed union of Jet Airways’ pilots, in its first conciliation meeting today did not come out with any solution.

“The airline representatives came without any explanation and asked for more time from the labour commissioner. The date for next hearing is September 14 but they have to reply by September 7,” said a NAG representative, which has the support of over 650 pilots.

A Jet Airways release said that labour commissioner has directed the guild not to go one strike till the conciliation meetings are on.

“The conciliation officer has directed that the NAG members cannot resort to strike or cause disruption to the operations on September 7, 2009, or thereafter, pending completion of the conciliation proceedings, said a Jet Airways release.

In July-end, Jet Airways terminated the services of two senior pilots — Sam Thomas and D Balaraman — without giving any reason for the same. The guild said that they were terminated for actively taking part in forming a union. The union demand reinstatement of the two pilots.

The labour commissioner had called the pilots and the management for a conciliation meeting over the issue today.