AI De-recognises Two Unions, Seal their Offices

After crushing the two-day strike by its employees, Air India has de-recognised two major trade unions and sealed their offices across the country, said media reports.

As strike ended, the public air-carrier gradually restored normally, though 25 flights have still to be cancelled for the day, reports said.

Later, the management of National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL), which holds Air India, de-recognised erstwhile Indian Airlines’ union Air Corporation Employees’ Union (ACEU) and All India Aircraft Engineers’ Association (AIAEA) and sealed their offices across the country, said reports citing unnamed sources.

Also, in addition to termination of 17 office-bearers of the two Unions last night, he airline put 15 engineers under suspension, reports said.

According to reports, more employees are likely to be dismissed and suspended and the number might go as high as 100.

“The de-recognition order came in last night and their offices have also been sealed,” the sources were quoted as saying.

In the meanwhile, a leader of the ACEU Dinkar Shetty said that they were awaiting a formal communication from the management regarding termination and suspension before deciding on the future course of action, said reports.

The two unions had gone on a flash-strike on Tuesday to protest a ‘gag order’ directing the office-bearers of NACIL trade union to refrain from making public statements and harming the image of the company.

The Unions were demanding immediate withdrawal of the ‘gag order’. But the Management claimed that there was only a general circular which has been upheld by the Mumbai High Court and that there was no such ‘gag order’.

The strike led to cancellation of 130 flights affecting 13,000 passengers. Besides, NACIL also incurred losses to the tune of Rs 10 crore due to the strike.

Soon after the strike ended, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that the kind of behaviour shown by the striking employees cannot be tolerated repeatedly, reports said.

“Whoever did it are absolutely irresponsible,” he was quoted as saying.

The strike was called off following a Delhi High Court order yesterday.

(Based on internet reports)