Despite the hard attitude adopted by Delhi High Court against the pilots' strike in Air India and the direction given by it to the pilots to resume duty, the dispute continues to defy a solution. The situation has come to such a head that despite the threat of losing their jobs and contempt of court proceedings, pilots appear to be adamant to hold on to their stand. The Air India administration has hinted a lock out in the organization.
Sixth Pay Commission Recommendations
It may be pertinent to note that while hearing the case pertaining to the strike in Air India by its pilots, the court had directed the pilots to return to their duties in public interest. Pilots are demanding the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. Interestingly, pilots had served notice of strike on the administration way back on 24 February, but the Air India administration failed to find out an amicable solution to the issue. Several rounds of talks between the parties concerned also proved futile and in the end, pilots went on strike. Air passengers are a harassed lot because of the strike by about eight hundred pilots.
Seeking to derive undue benefit out of the Air India strike, private airlines have unilaterally hiked their fare manifold. On the other hand, the Air India administration declared the strike illegal and, thereby, further provoked the pilots. It also withdrew recognition granted to the Indian Commercial Pilots Association, which played an important role in the strike.
As a matter of fact, the adamancy of pilots coupled with the weak stand and attitude of the Air India administration, and the dictatorial attitude of the chief managing director of Air India Arvind Yadav, are largely responsible for the situation. That is why when the case came up for hearing in Delhi High Court, the court directed the pilots to return to their duties immediately and also admonished the administration for its failure to implement the agreement it had reached with the pilots in 2009.
Demands of Employees
The fact remains that the Air India administration or the government have never displayed any liberal attitude to the just demands of employees, nor it showed any courage to hold on to its decision despite its harsh attitude which was displayed initially when the strike began. It remains a fact that whenever there was a strike in the Air India, the administration took strong measures to dismiss the striking pilots, but it never implemented its own decision. It was compelled to withdraw the decision of dismissal of pilots following the discussions and talks with the striking pilots. That is why pilots are adamant despite dismissal of some of their colleagues and the threat of contempt of court proceedings looming large on them. Without caring for any punitive action pilots are continuing their strike for which none other but the very attitude of the Air India is responsible.
Had the administration implemented the 2009 Agreement, there would have been no strike, nor it would have to bear the admonishment by the high court. It is the outcome of the irresponsible attitude of the administration that pilots have mustered such great courage that they are not prepared to hear to anything from the administration, and are defying court direction too. By ignoring the larger public interest, pilots in their own vested interest, are causing a loss of millions of rupees to the government and the country and simultaneously, adding to the sufferings of air passengers.
Resolution to Issue
Under the circumstances, the reported intention of the Air India management to declare a partial lock out does not augur well. It would be futile to expect any fruitful outcome of it. In fact, it may further deteriorate the situation. If the government does want to take a decision, it should decide to remove the present CMD Arvind Jadhav who continues to be in the eye of the storm because of his way of functioning. At present, going by the stage of the strike one can only surmise that instead of a resolution to the issue, the situation is worsening with each passing day.
Sixth Pay Commission Recommendations
It may be pertinent to note that while hearing the case pertaining to the strike in Air India by its pilots, the court had directed the pilots to return to their duties in public interest. Pilots are demanding the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. Interestingly, pilots had served notice of strike on the administration way back on 24 February, but the Air India administration failed to find out an amicable solution to the issue. Several rounds of talks between the parties concerned also proved futile and in the end, pilots went on strike. Air passengers are a harassed lot because of the strike by about eight hundred pilots.
Seeking to derive undue benefit out of the Air India strike, private airlines have unilaterally hiked their fare manifold. On the other hand, the Air India administration declared the strike illegal and, thereby, further provoked the pilots. It also withdrew recognition granted to the Indian Commercial Pilots Association, which played an important role in the strike.
As a matter of fact, the adamancy of pilots coupled with the weak stand and attitude of the Air India administration, and the dictatorial attitude of the chief managing director of Air India Arvind Yadav, are largely responsible for the situation. That is why when the case came up for hearing in Delhi High Court, the court directed the pilots to return to their duties immediately and also admonished the administration for its failure to implement the agreement it had reached with the pilots in 2009.
Demands of Employees
The fact remains that the Air India administration or the government have never displayed any liberal attitude to the just demands of employees, nor it showed any courage to hold on to its decision despite its harsh attitude which was displayed initially when the strike began. It remains a fact that whenever there was a strike in the Air India, the administration took strong measures to dismiss the striking pilots, but it never implemented its own decision. It was compelled to withdraw the decision of dismissal of pilots following the discussions and talks with the striking pilots. That is why pilots are adamant despite dismissal of some of their colleagues and the threat of contempt of court proceedings looming large on them. Without caring for any punitive action pilots are continuing their strike for which none other but the very attitude of the Air India is responsible.
Had the administration implemented the 2009 Agreement, there would have been no strike, nor it would have to bear the admonishment by the high court. It is the outcome of the irresponsible attitude of the administration that pilots have mustered such great courage that they are not prepared to hear to anything from the administration, and are defying court direction too. By ignoring the larger public interest, pilots in their own vested interest, are causing a loss of millions of rupees to the government and the country and simultaneously, adding to the sufferings of air passengers.
Resolution to Issue
Under the circumstances, the reported intention of the Air India management to declare a partial lock out does not augur well. It would be futile to expect any fruitful outcome of it. In fact, it may further deteriorate the situation. If the government does want to take a decision, it should decide to remove the present CMD Arvind Jadhav who continues to be in the eye of the storm because of his way of functioning. At present, going by the stage of the strike one can only surmise that instead of a resolution to the issue, the situation is worsening with each passing day.
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