Sops end pilots' strike

AI pilots call off strike after 10 days, forget corruption agenda, lap up govt's offer of pay parity, re-recognition

After beginning dramatically and sustaining its momentum for 10 long days, the Air India strike finally came to a rather tepid end yesterday.
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The pilots suddenly appeared to suffer from selective amnesia when they agreed to break the deadlock, once they were granted pay parity, consigning to oblivion their earlier claims of crusading to end corruption in the carrier's management.


People look at an Air India flight take off from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. (Inset) Minutes of the meetingu00a0 between pilots and the management

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The pilots had earlier shouted anti-graft slogans in the carrier's quarters, even sporting placards, making common cause with Anna Hazare. The minutes duly signed by nine pilots didn't mention a single word on the alleged corruption enquiry demanded by them.

"The strike is called off, the union will be re-recognised, all the suspensions and terminations will be reinstated; the Dharmadhikari Committee report will be implemented by November this year," said an senior pilot.

However the pilot also confirmed that the management had not given anything in writing on the issue of corruption. He said, "The ministry and the management official have given their word orally, saying that irregularities will be looked into. But they have not given anything in writing on the subject."

The ICPA General Secretary Rishabh Kapur remained unavailable for comment, despite repeated attempts to contact him.

Speaking exclusively with MiD DAY, Civil Aviation Secretary Nasim Zaidi spoke of the grounds on which the strike had been called off. "As the pilots have agreed to withdraw the strike, all the suspensions and terminations will be revoked with immediate effect.

Once they withdraw their application from the high court, their union will also gain re-recognition. The issues regarding the desired 75 flying hours and pay parity will be forwarded to the Justice Dharmadhikari Committee, which will look into the matter with utmost priority.
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The pilot union has given in writing that there will be no industrial action (strike) till November. The management has also agreed to a maximum utilisation of aircraft so the flying hours can be increased."

However Zaidi said that no agreement had been reached with the pilot body on the issue of corruption. No committee had been appointed to investigate the matter. "No such agreement was entered into with the pilots," Zaidi added.

Said AI CMD Arvind Jadhav, "Yes it is true that the strike has been called off. This is a welcome decision from the pilots.

Earlier we had given our word to the honourable high court that once the pilots called off their strike, their suspensions would be revoked and their demands would be referred to the appointed Justice Dharmadhikari Committee. The strike has been called off on exactly the same grounds."

The final round of talks between the top Aviation Ministry officials and the pilots ended at around 9 pm yesterday, with both the parties agreeing on the compromise formula forwarded by the ministry. The pilots, who have been on strike for the last ten days, resumed work from midnight.

1,650
Total flights cancelled during the 10-day strike

Rs 150 cr
Net loss incurred

800
The number of pilots who were on strike