AI pilots may strike again if govt denies full reinstatement

New Delhi: Pilots affiliated to the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) could well strike work again if the Air India management refuses to discuss reinstatement of all 101 sacked pilots. Pilot sources indicated on Monday that they would be left with no other option since the management was unwilling to hold talks with them.

The striking pilots called off their 58-day long strike last Tuesday on orders from the Delhi High Court. The court had also asked the airline management to sympathetically consider reinstating the 101 sacked pilots. It had directed that report of the conciliation proceedings be submitted to it by July nine.

Air India Chairman-cum-Managing Director Rohit Nandan did not respond to queries from Firstpost on the matter. A senior civil aviation ministry official said the airline had time till 13 July to revert with its decision and talks will continue. But the pilots said it was apparent from the management’s attitude in court on Monday that they were not interested in reinstating sacked pilots.

“Their lawyers first insisted that all pilots physically report to work, which we did by signing the attendance register. But then they told the court they will take time to decide on reinstatements. So the court asked both parties to continue talks and return on the 13th. But we will be left with no option but to go on strike again if reinstatements do not happen,” said an IPG pilot.

On Friday, pilots and airline officials met for a four-hour-long conciliation proceeding before the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC), but the meeting failed to yield any resolution.

“Unfortunately, the Air India management did not reciprocate our goodwill gesture of our reporting back to work,” IPG Joint Secretary Tauseef Mukadam had said after Friday’s proceedings. Claiming that the management representatives did not have any proposal to resolve the stalemate, he had said, “They simply asked for more time to consider our demands.”

IPG leaders said all 434 of their colleagues have submitted affidavits to the court and its copies to Air India that they were willing and ready to resume duty, as directed by the court.

In their submission before the Deputy Labour Commissioner, the IPG sought revocation of all sack orders, withdrawal of all legal proceedings against the pilots and complaints before the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), restoration of recognition of IPG and payment of pending salaries and allowances.

The pilots had started reporting sick from 7 May as part of their agitation and later staged a 10-day protest fast too.

Anyway, despite reporting back to duty, the pilots would not be able to resume flying anytime soon. Since they were on ‘sick leave’ for two months, they would have to undergo mandatory medical tests and some may also have to get their licences renewed. Others may need flight simulator refresher training.

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