Mumbai: The management of National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL), which runs Air India and Indian Airlines after their merger, has sacked and suspended several of its employees who participated in the flash strike this week.
It has also withdrawn recognition to two trade unions - All India Aircraft Engineers Association (AIAEA) and the Air Corporations Employees Union (ACEU)
The flash and illegal strike on May 25, causing harassment to innocent passengers, revenue loss and disrupting flights nationwide and to international destinations have been cited as the primary reasons for de-recognition and termination of services and suspension.
Taking swift action after the strike was called off on Wednesday, the airline has not only dismissed several employees but also suspended many who had participated in the strike. “One of the most objectionable action of AIAEA was that in breach of office order dated July 27 2009,” stated a AI release.
“It approached the media criticizing the systems and procedures of the company.”
Reports of a ‘gag order’ by the airline irked the management because the AIAEA had informed the media that just after the Mangalore crash the airline had compromised on safety.
The union had said that an AI Bangalore-Delhi flight was re-routed through Mangalore on the day of the crash to carry relief personnel and issued an air-worthiness certificate by a private airline engineer not qualified to issue such a certification for an Airbus aircraft.
The airline had however stated it had not compromised on safety.
The release also said “there are no statutory provisions for recognition of trade unions. The Trade Union Act 1926 does not provide for recognition of a Trade Union in respect of Industry or Establishment. The Industrial Dispute Act also does not provide for recognition of Trade Unions.
“In fact, when the erstwhile Indian Airlines Corporation recognized ACEU in May 1959, the terms and conditions stated ‘that it is clearly understood and recognized that IAC is a Public Utility Service operating round the clock everyday and has a duty of serving the traveling public. When the two unions were recognized, they were expected to “observe constitutional means and not resort to agitational steps” that would disrupt the operation of services.
Air India team in Mangalore to assist in interim claim
Air India (AI) will be positioning a team of officials including lawyers to Mangalore who will be assisting the survivors and the relatives of the victims of the AI Express IX 812 crash in their claim for compensation.
Sunil Kishen, Executive Director, Southern Region, will be coordinating the activities, said K Swaminathan, Deputy General Manager, Corporate Communications, AI. The team will arrive on May 28.
Helpline numbers in Mangaore are: 0824-2452306, 0824-2452307 and 0824-2452308. AI has already published an advertisement in all leading dailies giving details of the offices to be contacted, application download and submission for interim claim.
