New Delhi, September 10: With the stand-off between the Jet Airways and the agitating pilots deepening and services badly disrupted for the second day on Thursday, the carrier gave a veiled warning of hiring foreign pilots to tide over the situation.
While the airline cancelled over 200 flights as more than 400 cockpit crew failed to turn up for work for the second day, a meeting between Jet Chairman Naresh Goyal and strikeres’ body National Aviators Guild (NAG) failed to take place.
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However, back-channel talks were reportedly on to find ways to end the stalemate. “Doors are open… we will be sitting together,” Jet Airways Chief Commercial Officer Sudheer Raghavan told reporters.
Asked if it was true that the two pilots sacked last month were not given any valid reason for the management’s action, he said Jet had “not gone out of the legal framework.”
Goyal, who met Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, did not rule out hiring foreign pilots if it came to that.
Asked if Jet Airways would think of recruiting foreign pilots, he said “yes … we will request the government authorities. There are enough pilots available in the world.”
He also threatened to take disciplinary action against pilots, if they did not follow the law of the land, follow discipline and if they were not bothered about even committing contempt of court. The airline, infact, took disciplinary action against five more pilots.
Agitating pilots meanwhile reiterated their stand to continue their strike until all terminated pilots are reinstated, while also expressing their willingness to meet the management at any time to discuss and sort out the issues.
Speaking after the press conference by Jet Airways management, the striking pilots said that they were willing to go ‘more than half way’ and meet the management to resolve the issue, but they would not disband the union.
Sam Thomas, one of the pilots sacked by Jet Airways, further said that the strike was not about pay or perks, it was simply to have the pilots whom Jet Airways had sacked earlier, reinstated. The pilots were willing to take a pay cut if need be, and had in fact taken a pay cut in December 2008 of upto 50%. He also said they could find jobs anywhere.
On the question of whether they had the support of other unions the Jet pilots said they had wide support not only from other departments and other unions but also from international unions.
–Agencies