After end of AI strike, two unions de-recognised

Mumbai, May 27 (PTI) Hours after crushing the two-day old
strike by Air India employees, the state-owned airline
de-recognised two major trade unions and sealed their offices
across the country.
The airline gradually restored normalcy since morning
though 25 flights were cancelled for the day.
Erstwhile Indian Airlines' union Air Corporation
Employees' Union (ACEU) and All India Aircraft Engineers'
Association (AIAEA) have been de-recognised by the management
of National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL) and their
offices have also been sealed, NACIL sources said Thursday.
NACIL is the holding company of Air India.
Besides terminating the services of 17 office-bearers of
the two Unions Wednesday night, the airline suspended 15
engineers. More dismissals and suspensions are likely to
follow with highly-placed sources indicating that a total of
upto 100 employees would face action.
"The de-recognition order came in last night and their
offices have also been sealed," the sources said, as the
airline cracked down on the Union leaders.
Dinkar Shetty, a leader of the ACEU, said they were
waiting for a formal communication from the management
regarding termination and suspension before deciding on the
future course of action.
ACEU and AIAEA had gone on a flash-strike on Tuesday to
protest a 'gag order' directing the office-bearers of NACIL
trade union to refrain from making public statements and
harming the image of the company.
The Unions were demanding immediate withdrawal of the
'gag order'. But the Management claimed there was only a
general circular which has been upheld by the Mumbai High
Court and that there was no such 'gag order.'
The strike led to cancellation of 130 flights affecting
13,000 passengers. Besides, NACIL also incurred losses to the
tune of Rs 10 crore due to the strike.
Shortly after the strike was called off, Civil Aviation
Minister Praful Patel said the kind of behaviour shown by the
striking employees cannot be tolerated repeatedly. "Whoever
did it are absolutely irresponsible," he said.
The strike was called off following a Delhi High
Court order Wednesday. The Government had also turned the heat
on the striking employees giving a free hand to Air India
management to take stern action against them. About 20,000
employees belonging to ACEU and AIAEA had gone on strike,
according to the Unions. The striking employees accounted for
roughly 60 per cent of the airline's staff. PTI