Air India may exclude commanders from ‘workmen’ category

New Delhi: As the Air India pilots’ strike entered its 18th day, civil aviation minister Ajit Singh has thrown his weight behind a proposal to exclude commanders from the ‘workmen’ category, as stipulated under the current labour laws.
If cleared, this would prevent senior pilots from proceeding on strikes in the future. The minister is said to have held discussions and consultations with Attorney General GE Vahanavati on the matter. Under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, highly-paid pilots are currently classified along with other blue collar workers as ‘workmen’.
“We have discussed exclusion of commanders from the workmen category with lawyers... The commanders are the seniormost pilots. They should be put in the officer category,” a top government source said. Singh is learnt to have given instructions to the ministry officials to work on the proposal.
27/05/12 Smita Aggarwal/Financial Express

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Categories: Air India May 2012