Willing to talk without pre-conditions: Ajit Singh

Take back terminated pilots, say pilots guild representatives

New Delhi, May 23:

The Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Ajit Singh, has said that he is willing to talk to any one provided no conditions are put for the talks being held.

The Minister was speaking to newspersons shortly after agitating Air India pilots said that they were willing to talk with Mr Singh as long as the 101 pilots, who had been terminated, were taken back. Mr Singh said that at least one sacked AI pilot was taken back by the management yesterday. The Minister added that the pilots cannot expect talks to be held as long as the agitation continued.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, the Indian Pilot Guild's, Joint Secretary, Captain Tauseef Mucadam, said, “We don't want our core demands to be met right now. Take back the pilots and give us an assurance that these demands will be discussed. We are not putting a gun on anyone's head or ever intend to do so. We are willing to join duty right now. It can be done in 15 minutes.”

Captain Tauseef and three other office-bearers claimed that they were ready to write another letter to the Minister seeking time to discuss various issues. The over two-week long strike is causing daily revenue loss of between Rs 12 and 15 crore to Air India.

Giving the indication that there was greater acceptance for the agitation, IPG claimed that eight pilots who had gone to Singapore for training on the Boeing 787 had, on their return, joined the industrial action. IPG officials said the management's proposed decision to go in for wet lease of aircraft could lead to more financial trouble and claimed that earlier decisions to lease aircraft had been a huge financial burden on the airline.

IPG officials claimed that they were seeking the same treatment that was meted out to a similar agitation that was carried out by Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) whose membership largely consists of Indian pilots.

ICPA called off the agitation after the Association was re-recognised and its terminated members taken back.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court issued contempt notices to pilots who reported sick after the 9 {+t} {+h} May order of the single judge Bench declaring the strike illegal.

Late tonight, Air India decided to extend the contingency plan till the end of June. Earlier, the contingency plan was in place till June 1.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-economy/article3450013.ece