Air India pilots get High Court bash; 6 sacked, 2 suspended

New Delhi, Apr 27: Almost 800 Air India pilots have gone for strike from Tuesday, Apr 27 midnight. Taking a hand on the agitating pilots, the Delhi High Court slammed them and asked the pilots to "go to work."

After hearing the High Court's decision to stay the strike by the pilots, the civil aviation ministry stated, "Pilots can not dictate terms to the government. Air India has to cut losses."

Terming the pilots actions as irresponsible, the civil aviation ministry said, "We welcome High Court's order. Air India sources also informed that the airlines has terminated 6 pilots and suspended two.

However, holding Air India management responsible for the mismanagement and losses, striking pilots sought the Prime Minister's intervention and a CBI probe into the matter.

In a letter to the PM, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) urged him, "to review the appointment of the high headed and dishonest management to restore the past glory of the airline."

What is the bone of contention?

Following the merging of Indian Airlines and Air India, the ICPA had demanded that the pay for Indian Airlines pilots to be on par with those of Air India. The pilots allege that the management had not adhered to the memorandum of settlement signed in Nov 2009 enforcing the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.

With the ICPA standing for the Indian Airlines staff, claims that while the Air India pilots enjoy a big fixed salary component, the same is almost minuscule for the former Indian Airlines pilots.

OneIndia News