Thursday, 10 May 2012

Air India moves Supreme Court against pilots' strike

NEW DELHI: The Air India management on Thursday moved the Supreme Court to order the airline's striking pilots back to work, three days after the latter had gone on strike. 
Earlier, in morning the airline has decided to stop booking for all long-haul international flights to North America, Europe and UK till May 15. 
The management is now moving contempt proceedings against the members of Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG) who continued to stay away from work despite a clear Delhi high court verdict calling it illegal on Wednesday. 
It is also examining if the flying licences of the pilots can be suspended - either temporarily or permanently -- by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for "highhanded behaviour and acting against public interest". 
A senior AI official said: "We are moving civil contempt against members of the now derecognized IPG in the high court. We are also filing criminal contempt against the striking pilots in the Supreme Court for trying to obstruct implementation of an earlier SC order under which pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines were to be also sent for training on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner." 
The IPG had made it clear on Wednesday night that the pilots would not return to work unless the management was willing to discuss their grievances. However, the aviation ministry has made it clear that they would first need to return to work before any dialogue could begin. "Dialogue and disruption can't happen together. Pilots must follow the court order," minister Ajit Singh said. 

No comments:

Post a Comment