With the court restraining the pilots from illegal strike, reporting sick for work, staging demonstrations or resorting to any agitation outside the company's offices in Delhi and other regional offices, the pilots in all likelihood would have to return to work or face ‘contempt' of court.
However, Jitendra Awhad, president of the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), the main representative of the pilots, has said the strike could continue until Sunday since the management has not invited them for talks. He said he is "ready to withdraw 99 per cent of the demands".
The court's order was a result of an injunction suit filed against the pilots by the national carrier. The court pointed out the irreparable loss that the strike would cause the company and the huge inconvenience to the passengers.
The court has fixed July 13 as the next date of hearing. This is not the first time that the pilots have gone on strike putting passengers in difficulties.
Seven flights cancelled
K. Swaminathan, Air India spokesperson, told Gulf News that "seven flights have been cancelled since the pilots struck work. All Gulf-bound flights are on schedule with even flights to Jeddah and Riyadh now operating. It is the ultra long-haul flights, particularly to the US, that are the most affected."
He did not however confirm that 10 more pilots have been sacked and doctors sent to the homes of 50 more pilots who have called in "sick."
Around 150 pilots, who belong to the IPG, which was derecognised by the management on Tuesday, are on strike. Air India has around 450-500 pilots for international aircraft.
The reason behind the strike is that these pilots, who were part of Air India before the merger of the airline with Indian Airlines (domestic airline), say they do not want the airline to send any pilot of erstwhile Indian Airlines for the Boeing-787 Dreamliner training until the issue of their seniority and career progression is resolved.
When the IPG approached the Bombay High Court, an interim order was passed in their favour on March 13. However, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association challenged the order in the Supreme Court which stayed the interim order on April 23.
Pilots say, Government says
- The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) seeks solutions for human resources integration issues — including pay parity, working conditions, seniority etc.
- Management agreed to grant 75 hours fixed flying allowance a month and lay over subsistence allowances of $1,600 for the commander and $1,300 for the co-pilot.
- The management has turned a deaf year to the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) demands which led to the strike.
- The pilots' demands have been sidelined
- The Air India management is stubborn.
- The six-month salary delay has added to our woes.
- Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has termed the strike as illegal, saying the AI management will take action against those involved in the stir.
- Air India is going through a turbulent period and billions in public money is being infused to run the carrier.
- Pilots should negotiate and resolve their issues through dialogue, he said.
- A series of directives issued by the ICPA during the pendency of the conciliation proceedings was not helping to sustain a cordial atmosphere and also tarnishing the image of the company.
- Air India on Tuesday sacked 10 pilots, de-recognised their union and sealed its offices, as around 160 of them failed to join duty.
[/img][/COLOR]
