AI cracks down on striking employees, 58 staffers sacked

New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) In an unprecedented action,
Air India Thursday sacked another 41 employees, taking the
number of staffers whose services have been terminated for
going on an "illegal" strike to 58 even as it de-recognised
two unions which led the stir.
The national carrier has also suspended 24 others,
including 15 engineers, so far, Airline sources said.
The services of 58 staffers, including all office-
bearers of the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) and All
India Aircraft Engineers Association (AIAEA), have been
terminated, they said.
Since Wednesday night, the airline management has been
busy sending termination and suspension notices and locking up
the offices of the two unions all over the country, they said,
adding that caveats have been moved in some courts to prevent
any ex-parte decision if the unions challenge the step.
Adopting a tough stand, the management has issued
notices to end recognition to the two unions which led the
two-day strike that disrupted flights in the aftermath of
the Mangalore air crash, one of the major disasters that
struck the national carrier.
However, the Labour and Employment Ministry has
maintained that the suspension and termination of services of
Air India employees would not be applicable when the
conciliation process at the level of Chief Labour Commissioner
(CLC) was going on, a Ministry source said.
ACEU General Secretary J B Kadiyan had also said
Wednesday evening that the CLC has given in writing that no
party can resort to any unilateral action like this, when the
conciliation process was underway.
The Unions had gone on a flash strike protesting
against a 'gag order' on members for talking to the media
after Saturday's air crash in Mangalore and 'delay' in payment
of salaries. The management, however, clarified there is only
one general circular and that there was no "gag order".
The strike was called off Wednesday after the Delhi
High Court restrained the agitating employees from continuing
the stir and the government talked tough giving a free hand to
the management to deal with them.
Though Air India has taken measures in the past to
quell unrest, this is the first time that such a large number
of employees have been sacked.
In 1974, the office bearers of the Indian Pilots
Guild, S S Nadkarni, D S Mathur and H S Hirani were sacked by
Air India, under the chairmanship of J R D Tata, over
introduction of the 'slip system' and abolishing of the bases
in London and New York. MORE PTI