Jet Airways pilot strike conciliation talks on, solution expected soon

New Delhi, Sep. 11 (ANI): Conciliation talks between agitating Jet Airways pilots and the airline management have begun in the capital before the Chief Labour Commissioner to break the deadlock that has severely disrupted flights across the country.

Besides Chief Labour Commissioner S K Upadhyay, the talks are being attended by Jet executive director Saroj Dutta, CEO Hafiz Ali and head of operation Captain Mohan.

The pilots' body National Aviators Guild (NAG) is being represented by its president Captain Girish Kaushik and Captain Sam Thomas.

As per the broad understanding, all four sacked pilots are to be reinstated and the charge sheets issued against some of the agitators will be withdrawn while the Registrar of the Trade Unions will look into the fulfillment of criteria of registration of the NAG.

On their part, the pilots will join their duties soon after the formal agreement is arrived at.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of a reported agreement arrived between the two sides through the mediation of Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam and some others.

Jet Airways and its pilots had last night hammered out a broad understanding to break the deadlock raising prospects of a quick return to normalcy.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had yesterday made enquiries about the crisis at a Cabinet meeting where Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel gave an update.

Late Thursday night, Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal met Nirupam following which a broad understanding was arrived at.

The outlines of this understanding were later approved with some changes by agitating pilots in Mumbai.

The four-day strike has led to the cancellation of nearly 700 flights, costing hardships to over 28,000 passengers.

Kaushik said the pilots are ready to return to flying duties within 15 minutes of their sacked colleagues being reinstated. (ANI)