Aviation industry employee unions mull action against Jet Airways

Hyderabad: Jet Airways' decision to lay off 1,900 employees has created more ripples than the private carrier, India's largest by number of passengers carried, probably bargained for with the Aviation Industry Employees' Guild, the largest organised aviation trade union in the country, stating it would boycott Jet Airways across all major airports in the country to protest its decision.

"The Guild will do all possible to ensure that these (sacked) employees get justice and failing which we will ensure boycott of Jet Airways in all the major airports across the country and the world by enlisting support of global transport unions," Guild's secretary VJ Deka said in a statement.

The body also felt that the workers had been made "scapegoat at the altar of crass commercialisation" where profit and bottom lines overtook all other considerations.

Showing solidarity with the Guild was the Airports Authority Employees Union which said they too were considering action against the airline. Union general secretary, MK Ghoshal, said, "Private carriers have been saying that they are suffering a loss of Rs14 crore a day. Cost on the employees must be around only Rs4 crore. They are saying all this to get some relief from the government. If the government is granting them a bailout, it should take into account the entire sector, including the AAI".