AI pilots, management to meet CLC on Friday

New Delhi: Air India's pilots, who called off their 58-day strike over career progression issues two days ago, would hold negotiations with the airline management as part of the conciliation proceedings before the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) in New Delhi on Friday.

The conciliation proceedings before the CLC have been scheduled after the Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the pilots to call off their agitation and asked the management to sympathetically consider their grievances, including reinstatement of 101 sacked pilots.[caption id="attachment_369072" align="alignleft" width="380"] Trouble in the sky. Reuters[/caption]

The court had asked the two sides to appear before the CLC on Friday afternoon and ordered that the proceedings be reported back to it by 9 July.

Meanwhile, the pilots, led by the de-recognised Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG), are in the process of submitting affidavits to the court that they were willing and ready to resume duty, IPG sources said.

The court had asked them to give joining reports or affidavits expressing their willingness to join the duty within 48 hours.

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However, the pilots would not be able to resume flying anytime soon. Since they were on 'sick leave' for two months, they would have to undergo the mandatory medical tests.

Some of them might also have to undertake flight simulator refresher training which is required if they do not fly for two months.

During the hearing, Justice Reva Khetrapal had told AI management that pilots are not "goondas or criminal elements. You consider their grievances after talking to them".

She had also put on record the pilots' counsel's statement that her clients would immediately call off the strike and join their duties in 48 hours.

PTI