Sacked Air India pilots reinstated
12 May 2011
Air India management appear to have kept their part of a deal struck with striking pilots by reinstating 15 of their number who were either suspended or sacked for participating in a 10-day long stir. The strike played havoc with the carrier's domestic operations.
In the course of the strike the management suspended six and terminated the services of nine pilots, including the leaders of pilot's body -- the Indian Commercial Pilot's Association (ICPA) and executive pilots -- for spearheading the agitation.
Post withdrawal of the stir, pilots were somewhat apprehensive when they saw no move on part of the management to re-instate their sacked brethren. This lack of action led to the pilots writing to the aviation minister seeking his intervention.
''We have revoked the suspension of six pilots and reinstated the services of nine terminated pilots last evening and some of them have been even put on duty also,'' an Air India official said on Thursday.
He clarified that the five-day delay in re-instatement took place as the government has to follow various procedures.