Air India Advises Union Members To Keep Calm

Tuesday, 1st September 2015 at 16:17pm

Air India (AI) advises a union of pilots to keep their cool amid issues surrounding the labour ministry's statement about AI's pilots-in-command and the nature of their position.

A few days ago, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) encouraged AI pilots to ignore management's persistent requests to extend their hours of duty. ICPA advised pilots to just follow the number of hours prescribed by law.

ICPA is a labour union being recognised by AI. To date, it has over 600 members.

On Monday, Deepa Mahajan the airline's executive director for personnel relations sent a letter to T Parveen Keerthi of ICPA in response to the latter's earlier allegations. Deepa Mahajan further advised ICPA to keep calm so as not to jeopardize the airline's operations.

In her letter reply, she informed that AI isn't breaking any law as alleged by ICPA. She added that the airline had nothing to do with the labour ministry's opinion. She also justified that in August, the airline merely disseminated the ministry's opinion.

The airline explained that the ministry ruled that pilots-in-command working for AI do not fall under the "workmen" category and that this particular position within AI is considered a managerial function.

The notification letter being questioned by ICPA reportedly came from AI. It contains, among others, the labour ministry's take on the pilots-in-command position.

After seeing the controversial notification, the association forwarded a letter to the airline's operations director requesting AI to withdraw the statement and issue an explanation, otherwise the union will take appropriate action against AI.

The union also pointed out management's tendency to adjust scheduled flight services and pilot pull outs on very short notice. ICPA opines that this practice adds undue pilot stress which could affect performance and safety.

By: Pete Lee.