Jet staff talk of MNS trade union

Mumbai: The reinstated staff of Jet Airways are likely to discuss the formation of an employees’ union with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). At the party leader, Raj Thackeray’s residence here, Samir Dalvi, an ex-employee of Jet Airways and spokesperson for the recently sacked cabin crew, spoke to the media of a likely union. However, the union, he said, was a different issue and it would not be “appropriate” for him to talk about it right now.
“The immediate concern is to address the concerns of senior staff, now that the junior cabin crew have been reinstated,” he said.
The airline company already has a registered employees’ union — Bharatiya Kamgar Sena led by the Shiv Sena’s labour wing.
Mr. Thackeray said plans for the union were still in the pipeline and nothing could be said about it as yet. He said he intervened not with the idea of forming a union. “I did not know that they would come to me. After our meeting, everyone [from Jet] started calling me. I did not speak personally to them. My only message was that you should take everyone into confidence, as family members do. We are aware of the problems due to the ongoing recession, but people are equally important,” he said.
He hailed Jet’s decision and did not express any opposition to the possibility of pay cuts.
At Mr. Thackeray’s residence, celebration was in the air. Around 10 Jet employees came to meet Mr. Thackeray to thank him for his intervention. They presented him with a bouquet. Some also burst firecrackers.
18/10/08 The Hindu

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Categories: Jet Airways Oct 2008