Some progress in talks with Air India pilots

New Delhi: The first round of talks between the pilots of Air India and the Union Civil Aviation Ministry aimed at ending their eight-day-old strike remained inconclusive on Wednesday night.
“Discussions are still taking place. There is progress in the talks which were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. We will resume the dialogue,'' Civil Aviation Secretary Naseem Zaidi told reporters here.
Mr. Zaidi said that “many points'' were covered during the talks that lasted nearly four hours and only “one or two points are left.'' He added that talks would be held again on Thursday afternoon.
Eight days after their protest paralysed domestic operations of the national carrier, the strikers, owing allegiance to the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), opened dialogue with officials of the Ministry to hammer out a solution and end the stalemate.
A two-member team of the Ministry, headed by Joint Secretary Prashant Shukul, was formed to initiate a dialogue with the pilots, who were said to be opposed to negotiating with Air India Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) Arvind Jadhav.
From the pilots' side, Capt. A.S. Bhinder, Capt. Rishabh Kapur, president and general secretary of the ICPA; Capt. Amitesh Ahuja and Capt. Shakil Naqvi participated. Capt. Bhinder, Capt. Kapur and Capt. Ahuja have been sacked by the Air India management.
05/05/11 Vinay Kumar/The Hindu

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Categories: Air India May 2011