Air India Pilots to End Strike in 48 hours

Tuesday, 3rd July 2012 at 06:22am

Within 48 hours, the almost two months-long strike staged by Air India pilots will come to an end as they (striking pilots) informed the Delhi High Court to finally return to work.

The decision was made after the airline management promised to address their concerns and other issues including the rehiring of the 101 sacked pilots who were earlier removed from its payroll roster.

Justice Reva Khetrapal was instrumental in the cessation of the pilots' strike after he offered both parties to appear on Friday before the Chief Labour Commissioner who is the conciliation officer for labor disputes and settle their differences there.

The pilots have filed a petition on the court for the reinstatement of their fellow 101 pilots, including 10 officers from Indian Pilots Guild, whose employment was terminated following the strike.

Justice Khetrapal aired his frustrations on the dispute that has been on for almost two months that has inconvenienced a lot of air travelers already.

He revealed that they have come up with a solution they hope would end the deadlock for good at the soonest possible time. He clarified though that cooperation of both parties is absolutely necessary.

The legal counsel of the IPG, Geeta Luthra, has issued a statement that his clients will soon return to work within 48 hours.

He also added that the 101 pilots, who were earlier terminated from service during the strike, are requested to submit reports to the court stating their intent to return to work.

The judge also remarked that the management should listen to the grievances of the pilots, carefully study their concerns and bring them to the negotiating table.

Among other issues raised by the pilots, who all come from former pre-merger Air India, was the inclusion of erstwhile Indian Airlines pilots in the training to operate the Boeing Dreamliners.

The IPG maintained that they would only end the strike if all the 101 terminated pilots were rehired.

On the other hand, the lawyer of Air India, Lalit Bhasin, also keep his statement that they would only come to the negotiating table if the pilots called off the strike without conditions.

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