Revoking suspension: Pilots union demand Min's intervention

The Air India pilot's union, which spearheaded a 10-day strike, today sought the Civil Aviation Ministry's intervention in revoking suspension and termination of services of nine pilots.

The union alleged that the airline management was dragging its feet on revoking the suspension and termination of their services even after five days of withdrawal of the strike.

"We regret to inform you that despite explicit agreement in writing that all erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots terminations or suspensions would be revoked with immediate effect as soon as the strike was withdrawn, the management of Air India has yet to revoke the terminations or suspensions of all the nine pilots," Rishabh Kapur, General Secretary of Indian Commercial Pilot's Association (ICPA), said in a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi.

Demanding removal of Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav, the ICPA said "his continued presence at the helm of affairs is a sure recipe for disaster for Industrial Relations and the very future of our beloved National Carrier."

"This is the reason ICPA had asked for the ouster of the CMD, Arvind Jadhav," Kapur said.

Demanding pay parity, removal of Air India CMD and CBI probe into various irregularities in the airlines, the ICPA went on a indefinite strike from April 26 midnight.

The strike lasted for 10 days and was withdrawn following intervention by Civil Aviation Ministry on May 6, in which it was decided that the management would immediately revoke the suspension or termination of services of nine striking pilots.

Kapur said that Air India management was blatantly violating the terms of the agreement, signed by the ICPA and the government of India.

"We have informed Prashant Sukul, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation about this blatant violation of the terms of the agreement on May 9, and despite his intervention, the management continues to drag its feet," complained the ICPA general secretary.

Earlier, the ICPA wrote a letter to Air India CMD on the issue asking him to revoke all the termination or suspension orders issued during the strike period with immediate effect.

"The same has not been complied with from your end and nine erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots continue to stand terminated. To maintain industrial peace and harmony, we request you to immediately withdraw the termination or suspension orders without any punitive action or break in service and to maintain their seniority as was February 23," Kapur said.

ICPA also wants all the office orders to be withdrawn, as agreed upon in their meeting on May 7.