End strike or else, Jet chief to pilots

Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal on Wednesday said that he would have no option but to follow 'the law of the land' if an action had to be taken against the agitating pilots, while appealing to them to resolve the matter amicably and return to work.

The pilots, however, remained unmoved and said they were not under any pressure with the Jet chairman threatening to shut down operations.

Meanwhile, Goyal met Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel in the wake of the agitation by the airline pilots.

"(If) they don't follow company rules and procedures, I don't think we are left with any option and will follow whatever the law of the land is," Goyal told a television channel.

He asked the striking pilots to follow the Bombay High Court order and cautioned them against contempt of court.

The agitation by Jet Airways pilots to protest the sacking of two of their colleagues entered the second day on Wednesday with the private carrier cancelling over 100 domestic and international flights across the country, leaving passengers stranded.

On whether he would close operations, Goyal said, "I will not allow to be held hostage. Whatever has to be done, we will do it. I hope it doesn't happen. There are 30,000 employees involved. It is the question their livelihood."

He added, "I hope things go back to normal. That's my only request to people who are being misled... and go back to normal operations."

Goyal said he has "no difficulty meeting" the pilots to resolve the matter amicably as it will be good for the company, the future of these employees and the reputation of the country.

Goyal said the pilots were rostered for duty on Monday after they assured they would not agitate and they agreed to meet the management on Thursday.

However, the pilots went on mass sick leave as they knew passengers would be stranded at both domestic and international airports.

The pilots of the airline have been reporting sick en- masse since Tuesday. They had warned the management of the agitation from September 7. The pilots decided to go on mass sick leave from September 7 as the Regional Labour Commissioner is conducting conciliatory proceedings between the pilots and the management of the airline and any strike before the proceedings get over was declared illegal.

We are not under any pressure: Jet Airways pilots

Agitating Jet Airways pilots on Wednesday said they were 'not under any pressure' after airline chairman Naresh Goyal threatened to close down operations due to the ongoing crisis.

Gireesh Kaushik, president of National Aviator Guild, also held the airline management responsible for the passengers' woes.

"We just want our voice back in the company. We want back our two colleagues who were sacked. It (passengers' problems) is not due to us. We are trying to bring the situation back to normal," Kaushik, who arrived to in New Delhi meet DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) officials to put forth his union's views, said.

Asked whether they were under pressure after Goyal's statement that he is ready to close down operations of the airlines, he said "We are not under any pressure."

On the probability of imposition of ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act), he said whatever they want to impose, they can do it. "We are going in honest direction," Kaushik said.

He said it was not a strike as each one of the pilots have joined the agitation by themselves.