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The pilots’ strike may continue for another two weeks as the Air India management refused to reinstate the pilots who were terminated due to the strike. The management has also refused to recognize the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) union. Despite the court’s effort at bringing about a settlement between the two sides, the management refused to relent and reinstate the pilots who were dismissed from service after the strike began last week.
The Delhi High Court issued contempt notices to nine sacked office bearers of the ICPA for disobeying its order to call off the ongoing strike in Air India which entered the seventh day on Tuesday. “Issue notice to the nine office bearers of the ICPA and renotify the matter on May 25,” said a Division Bench of Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Veena Birbal. “We will fly only after the reinstatement of the nine pilots and the recognition of our union,” the pilots submitted in court.
Stating that their bargaining power was reducing as their strike continued, the court said “you can’t keep acting tough”. “These pilots are not understanding the gravity of being prosecuted for contempt of court,” the court warned while issuing the contempt notice and seeking a response from the pilots within two weeks. The court has also appointed senior advocate Sidharth Luthra as amicus curie in the matter.
Appearing for the pilots senior advocate KTS Tulsi reiterated that the pilots would call off their strike and resume work only if the management recognised their union, unsealed the office of the union and reinstated the pilots whose services were terminated last week in the wake of the strike. The pilots also said they had full faith in the judiciary but did not trust the management to talk to them until their union was recognised. Appearing for Air India Ltd, Lalit Bhasin said “I have talked to the highest authority and can say that besides other issues, the management will consider the appeal for reinstatement of sacked pilots within four weeks.”
The Delhi High Court issued contempt notices to nine sacked office bearers of the ICPA for disobeying its order to call off the ongoing strike in Air India which entered the seventh day on Tuesday. “Issue notice to the nine office bearers of the ICPA and renotify the matter on May 25,” said a Division Bench of Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Veena Birbal. “We will fly only after the reinstatement of the nine pilots and the recognition of our union,” the pilots submitted in court.
Stating that their bargaining power was reducing as their strike continued, the court said “you can’t keep acting tough”. “These pilots are not understanding the gravity of being prosecuted for contempt of court,” the court warned while issuing the contempt notice and seeking a response from the pilots within two weeks. The court has also appointed senior advocate Sidharth Luthra as amicus curie in the matter.
Appearing for the pilots senior advocate KTS Tulsi reiterated that the pilots would call off their strike and resume work only if the management recognised their union, unsealed the office of the union and reinstated the pilots whose services were terminated last week in the wake of the strike. The pilots also said they had full faith in the judiciary but did not trust the management to talk to them until their union was recognised. Appearing for Air India Ltd, Lalit Bhasin said “I have talked to the highest authority and can say that besides other issues, the management will consider the appeal for reinstatement of sacked pilots within four weeks.”
