IPG managing committee will take formal decision to call off strike by Wednesday
The 58-day protracted strike by Air India pilots was called off late on Tuesday after the Delhi High Court asked them to join duty within 48 hours and the management to consider their grievances. This will bring much needed relief to the passengers affected by the strike.
The decision to end the strike was announced by the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) after a meeting of its managing committee in Mumbai.
This, the second-longest strike in the aviation history of independent India, has caused a loss of Rs. 600 crore to the Air India management and raised questions about its reliability and credibility among international and domestic travellers.
Reacting to the development, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh expressed the hope that the pilots would join their duties within 48 hours, as per the commitment made by them in the High Court.
“The government is always willing to consider the grievances of the pilots, including reinstatement of the terminated pilots of Air India,” he added in a statement here.
“We sincerely hope that the AI management and the Civil Aviation Ministry will be as sincere on their part. On this understanding, we are commencing the process of restoring normalcy of operations,” said IPG general secretary E.A. Kapadia.
The IPG statement came after counsel Geetha Luthra told the court that the striking pilots, numbering 434, will join their duties in 48 hours.
‘We are willing’
Earlier, the guild had said: “We have been willing to join duty but we could not have left out 10 colleagues of the managing committee in the lurch as the Air India management was unwilling to take them back. The management had indicated that they were ready to take back 91 pilots immediately but they were silent on the 10 others. We wanted an assurance on their fate also, and with the court taking a positive view of the situation, we are confident things will end smoothly for all.” Justice Khetrapal heard an application of the guild, which had alleged that the management had created a “hostile environment” by sacking the striking pilots and also derecognising it.
The pilots went on strike on May 7 over demands for better career progression. The Air India management took a tough stand and sacked 101 pilots, including the 10 office bearers of the IPG, which was also derecognised.
The strike has resulted in the curtailment of Air India’s international operations.
I Congratulate the Government of India and Airline Management for being stern and not bending under the demands of a spoiled lot of Indian Society. I grew up hearing that with greater power and money increases greater responsibility. But these pilots the more they are paid more they are irresponsible. Don't take any back any of the striking pilot. Let them go out on the street and beg and earn. They deserve this type of treatment.
This long strike lead to several problems across the nation. All the issues raised by the pilots of Air India should be resolved so that no futher strikes should be there leading to futher problems.
Striking pilots are not welcome to join Air India.
Their strike has brought loss of revenue to Air India and to passengers alike. Especially people travelling from Gulf
Now that the strike has been called off, both the Management and the
IPG should sit and discuss openly and objectively the irritants and
arrive at a mutually acceptable solution. No useful purpose will be
served in apportioning blame. When there is a showdown for whatever
reason, it is the travelling public who get affected and they
ultimately are the paymasters. The employees and Management are fully
aware that they are in a cooperative venture and together they will
succeed.
Striking work is nothing new to India. Every other day the Bank
employees, doctors, truck drivers and so on a show down. The remedy is
not privatisation. There has to be a change in work culture and
attitude.
Hopefully both parties of Air India have learnt a lesson the hard way.
Courts should just interpret the law instead of offering advices (like saying "Management should adopt parental attitude"). This kind of approach by courts won't solve any issues but only postpone.
i can,t understand once the court has termed thier strike illegal then
how another court meditate and reinstate those sacked pilots who has
cost nation Rs.600 Cr.
Pilots should compensate the loss of 600 crore caused to our india. indian government even though is not right, should be appreciated for maintaining the strick stand. I strongly support government. Reason because this is not the first time the pilot strike. Air india staff is known for recklessness to work , big fat ugly aunties and union attitude of demanding things without contributing to the success of AI . Do you know these These air india staff will not be recruited by any service providers. Having known that , these pilots come back licking after no salary for 2 months.
It was an agitation that held the CUSTOMERS hostage at the right time. News like
cheating on exams makes wonder one wonder about Indian Pilots. It was not a
decision of the Pilots but the request of the Delhi High Court that asked them to
join duty within 48 hours and the management to consider their grievances. The
pilots grievances should be considered and they must be asked to re-qualify under
a new agreement that will not allow these specific Pilots to exploit a vulnerable
situation. AIR-INDIA has become a dinosaur and Maybe it is time for it to become
extinct like the PANAM & TWA. A nation cannot be held hostage by the whims of
the few. GOOD LUCK.
The govt should be tough with the pilots, especially the leaders who
organized the strike, for so long, and at this time of the year, when
most of the Indians in the Gulf region travel to their homeland,
India. Do the pilots know how much the Indians in Gulf have paid extra
to other airline companies for their travel this year? The extra
amount paid collectively by the expatriate Indians plus the loss to
AIr-India is huge. Who is responsible for that? Pilots lose nothing.
They get back their jobs, and maybe even the salary for the strike
days. The aviation minister loses nothing. Only the travelling public.
The court must have asked for strict disciplinary action on the
pilots. If the pilots in AI are not satisfied with the terms at AI,
let them go to other airlines. They will not go; as there they will
have to be disciplined. In this strike, may be even they profited by
some payments from the airlines that benefited from the strike.
I wanted Govt to act tough with these blackmailing pilots and wanted Govt to send a tough message to these grossly overpaid and pampered morons that they are not indispensable. People still managed to fly, perhaps in better airlines. When the strike itself has been declared illegal by the court none of those whose services have been terminated should be hired back.Let them look for jobs in airlines that cares for their career progression and better remunerations.
The best option still is to put this white elephant to rest as 30,000 crores is hell lot of money even though staff is only partially responsible for the mess. The bigger sharks will continue enjoying privilages at cost of taxpayers money.
This strike has been foisted on a sick airline for purely selfish reasons by Maharaja Pilots. They appear to have no concern for the fare paying people on whom their pay packet should depend. Their tantrums (and the way the airline has been managing its affairs) has already cost a huge burden on taxpayers, on account of countless bailouts. I see no reason for any sympathy for them, since their "grievance" is so petty; that they do not want a share the new dreamliner aircraft with their colleagues and so on. Is this new form of casteism in the merged airline? Why should we put up with this?
Dont we have sufficient pilots in India in order to replace these people who are causing such a shame to the country?
These pilot were continously striking for 2 months ignoring passengers. No Leniency should be shown to them. The government should initiate disciplinary action against them for holding the passengers to ransom.
Merger of Air India and Indian Airlines is a commercial decision. All the pilots should be treated at par. Further, even at the cost of inviting wrath of the court, the government & the management of Air India while displaying 'parental attitude' should show to the 'family' that indiscipline will not be tolerated, all the members of the 'family' are equal. Any deviation on the above, will set a bad precedent for the industrial climate in the country. Last but not the least, while the Govt./management may consider sympathetically on taking back all/most of the pilots, the Indian Pilots Guild which had been calling for frequent illegal strikes should not be restored with recognitionl.
We cannot blame the Pilot or Staffs , every time the government bows
before their demand and this has given them the confidence of asking for
anything and everything. Also my question is to staffs that when it comes
for their incentive they are so much excited but what is the standard of
hospitality. Their salary should be made proportional to the profits.
AI/IA should be privatised - there must be several entrepreneurs
capable and wealthy enough to buy and revive the businesses, adopting
modern technology and methods. Above all, they would be able to
modernise operating practices (including HR) and sweep away un-
commercial business practices (free tickets, perks etc) which have
accumulated over the past six decades, by starting afresh, which the
Govt cannot do - no Govt Minister will be allowed that much freedom of
operation!!!
The Govt of India needs to concentrate on reviving the airlines
industry, ancillary industries and dependent sectors eg
hotel/hospitality and tourism. India should be enjoying booming
industries in these fields - not industries begging for govt financial
bailouts!!!
It will be a national tragedy, if the Govt buries its head in the sand
and continues just as before. INDIAN GOVT, PLEASE LET INDIA PROSPER!!!
whats the point of taking back them to work... who will pay for all the losses incurred during 58day illegal strike? are pilots giving surity that they will not go on strike on same issues agains? what about the disrespect they have shown to the court order when it was declared illegal? If I were the management I would not pay these pilots for next six months, atleast reduce the remuneration and never take those sacked poilots. they talk about grievances while receiving lakhs of rs per month as salary and facilities, what about the grievances of people who got stranded by this uncalled strike? who is going to compensate them for their travel plans? all these things should be discussed and keep the owners (we the people) informed about it.
If any employee from any organization not satisfying their renumeration, they should demand their salary package request through proper channel, otherwise they should look other good opportunities but not doing strike particularly govt. and govt aided organination employees. All nations seriously looking this long period strike in the national airlines. it is shame to all Indians.
This was an excellent opportunity for the govt to fold up the entire
Airline. You strike for 2 months causing great inconvenience to passengers and
huge loss to govt and then come back and say that you want to call it
off. Is this a joke? Govt should just shut down air india operations and
liquidate its assets and tell these pilots to go home and enjoy.
there should have been a better solution to this ruccuos..this agitation
caused huge loss to national carrier which is being pumped with our
money to keep it flouting,,both side should have compromised earlier
only if this was to come after ling time
A Good News. Congrats to "The Hindu"s recent editorial and expectedly the outcome has been encouraging. Hereafter, all parties, (Government, Managemnnt and Staff- both Ground and Flying) should learn to sort out issues without confrontation. It requires imagination and genuine leadership, want of which was displayed in this episode. Let us believe that everyone has learnt the lesson. Don't make your passengers, the real masters, suffer. Service, Service and Service with a smile alone should be the watch word. Surely, Air-India has a bright future, make it happen.
It seem to me being in Industrial relations field that both the
Government (Air India)& Pilots were playing a loosing game. Pilots
violated a lot of IR rules, their sickness could have been nailed down
instantly. GOI were not (for a right reason) was not willing to solve
the issue with this kind of belligerence.So who has won - nobody, Air
India lost crores, Pilots lost crores (No airlines would have taken
them)nor the Government. The final solution would be to offer so
called Indian airlines to whoever wants to inherit the organised
structure of Air India, which I am afraid is limited.I am afraid, this
revival of talks will cost GOI Crores of rupees to put back AI on-
line. I am not in favour
When lot of people are job less in our country, these pilots inspite of having a highly paid government job, should not get into strike frequently. Because of frequent strikes, we doesnt get sympathy when they are sacked. There are lot of passengers who suffer because of such frequent strikes. If they are not happy with their job either because of promotion or salary, they should rather look out for a better job instead of creating problem. After all, we have more than a dozen airline companies operating in India. Government should also be blamed for making this issue more complex rather than handling it amicably. It is very unfortunate that Court had to intervene to resolve this issue. Really dont understand why we have a separate Ministry for this.
It is a pity that the travelling public is taken for granted both by the Government ,Management and Air India staff.There is no necessity for the Government to consider the demands sympathetically at this stage. The Government has to harden its stand atleast now so that the staff will think twice before going on strike in future.Inspite of clear court directive the pilots refused to join duty and continued their strike nearly for two months.It is high time the Air India is to be privatised to avoid wasting of tax payers money any further .
Bowing to the Pilot's demand to re-instate the suspended pilots would send a wrong signal not only among Air India staff but also all PSU staffers. This would mean that the PSU employees can hold the nation to ransom in an effort to ever-green their perks and benefits even when the organisation and the national exchequer bleeds.
The government should take tough action against such employees in today's competitive markets.
Having lost few thousands in cancellations / rebookings because of the
irresponsible behaviour of the pilots/AI, I would be sceptical to make
another booking on Air India...maybe better watch them for atleast an
year before spending another rupee on them.
Under no circumstances the pilot should not be reinstated because they caused lot os inconvinience to the passengers and huge loss to the government exchequer. AI management must sue on these pilots for causing loss to the AI and passenger inconvinience.
It was nice decision by both Pilots and AI management to resolve issues cordially. It must be assured that Pilots should not agitate again for the same causes and should not create bad situation. Here we have to note that AI is receive aid from Government and generating revenue from their own operations also, but never understanding still why AI accumulating the financial losses and losing their market.
Regarding Pilots issues, why they want to waste their energy for agitations and strikes. They can work for growth of the organization and self instead of strikes. If in case they are facing any severe troubles then they should talk to management for resolving their issues cordially. If still they have not satisfied with resolutions and then they can look for better opportunities because they are highly potential and talented manpower. Indian Government should take necessary precaution methods and interventions in timely manner to control the situation and to stablise AI operations.
Stop the prejudice and start work. Travelers are in trouble, ministers are arranging their benefits and facilities burdening upon the shoulder of common people. Managements and pilots are criminals, pilots are first among them.
While the Government and the Air India management should be blamed for the deplorable state the National Carrier is in, the staff (flying and ground) have their contribution to the mess. The staff (maily flying) hold the nation to ransom at frequent intervals with one demand or the other. The nation should be against any 'sympathetic' viewing of their grievences. The Pilots Guild needs to introspect and equate the service they provide to the remuneration they earn. The Air India brand has been butchered by all the parties (Government, Management and Staff). Any soft pedalling of the Pilots' demand is going to have a domino effect across all the Indian carriers with untold suffering to the travelling public.
Government should privatize the airline industry in India.Only then can it turn around the airlines and ensure that taxpayers money is not lost.
This strike is the only meaningless, contemptuous, unjustifiable strike that happened in India, or even in the world, in recent times. Who will pay for the loss of public money incurred during this strike? The greedy pilots, before their intake, should be taught a few lessons of basic professional ethics.
I think such irresponsible behavior of the pilots needs appropriate punishment, not 'sympathy'. It just does not do justice to the aggrieved flyers who had to fork out large sums of money because AI did not even bother to inform them that they were cancelling their flights. In my own case, I had to spend an additional 20000 rupees because I ended up buying a fresh ticket on another airline last minute. And to think that I had bought a more expensive ticket on AI three months in advance when others where offering it for a lot less because I wanted to travel AI only! Disgusting!
Natural justice demands that AI pilots be punished to the extent of the losses caused to thousands of unsuspecting passengers like me.
Nobody will listen grievances of the passengers “sympathetically”.
Court must punish Piolts for causing pain to passengers and instruct
Air India to compensate passengers.
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