Carrot & stick may end Air India stir

New Delhi: The Prime Minister stepped into the AI pilot-management tangle on Tuesday — the fourth day of the agitation — sending strong indications that the crisis had gone on long enough. The Air India management, on its part, put on hold last weeks salary cut order and asked pilots to report to work by midnight, sending the striking pilots into a huddle.
The government too signalled that the management was free to take action if the pilots ignored the deadline.The possible steps include sacking or dismissing of some pilots. The striking pilots and Jadhav did not meet on Tuesday, indicating battlelines were being drawn for some action on Wednesday.
The agitations leader, Captain V K Bhalla, said the pilots had not received any formal communication from AI but if it is true and the management communicates it to us, we are willing to return. PM Manmohan Singh met aviation secretary M M Nambiar and AI chief Arvind Jadhav in the afternoon and was learnt to have told them that while lockout was not an option for the national carrier, all steps must be taken to make AI fully operational. After a meeting with AI brass through the day, Patel handed out an ultimatum to pilots. There is no reason for pilots to stay away from work now. The management has put its order of cutting salary in abeyance and a committee comprising of pilots will decide on the quantum of pay cut.
30/09/09 Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Air India Domestic Sep 2009, NACIL Sep 2009