AI takes back 6 staffers sacked for strike

After meeting Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel in New Delhi, Communist Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta said that six staffers, whose services were terminated after the two-day strike that had disrupted hundreds of flights, have been taken back "after they submitted apology letters on our advice".

"The suspension of all the 27 employees has also been revoked," he said after the meeting, which was also attended by N A Zaidi, civil aviation secretary and Arvind Jadhav, chairman and managing director.

Dasgupta said other retrenched employees would also be taken back after they submit similar apology letters. "We advised them to apologise in writing, as such cat-call strikes are not permitted in trade unions," he said.

Besides sacking 57 staffers and suspending 27 others, Air India management had de-recognised two major unions -- the Air Corporation Employees Union and Air India Aircraft Engineers Association -- after the strike.

Dasgupta, who is also the general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress, said the issue of de-recognition was still pending and needs to be sorted out at the earliest.

Around 25,000 employees went on a flash strike on May 25, three days after an Air India Express plane crashed in Mangalore killing 158 people.

The strike continued for two days, but was called off after the Delhi high court declared it illegal and described it as an expression of irresponsibility on the part of the workers.