IPG chief offers to step down to end Air India impasse

Mumbai: Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) President Jitendra Awhad has offered to step down from the post if Air India reinstates 101 sacked pilots. Awhad, an NCP MLA from Maharashtra, has communicated to the civil aviation ministry he is willing to quit to help resolve the impasse between the airline’s management and pilots.
Air India pilots have been on strike for 55 days and on hunger strike since last Sunday over the issue of career progression and training on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The ministry’s tough stance has put the IPG on the back foot.
“I am ready to quit any time. The pilots are ready to withdraw the strike but Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh is not willing to take back the sacked pilots,” Awhad said. The Executive Pilots Association, too, tried to broker a negotiation between the two sides but the efforts were futile. Singh gave no assurance on reinstating 10 committee members of the IPG, which resulted in a deadlock.
01/07/12 Business Standard

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Categories: Air India Jul 2012