Saturday, September 12, 2009

Jet standoff: Breakthrough today?

T
he management versus pilots deadlock in Jet Airways is yet to be resolved. The two sides spent eight hours on the negotiating table on Friday, but talks remained inconclusive.

Talks will resume in Mumbai on Saturday.

The Jet management is willing to reinstate the four sacked pilots, but it wants the newly-founded pilots union, the National Aviators' Guild to be disbanded. The pilots are opposed to this.

The government has, meanwhile, already asked other airlines to increase their flights so that passengers have alternatives to cancelled Jet flights.

On Friday, Capt Girish Kaushik, the president of NAG, said the pilots will not resume work "as of now" and the stir will continue but was hopeful of a solution on Saturday.

Sources said the talks saw a lot of hard bargaining by the two sides especially over issues which have a larger impact on the employees of the private airline.

Besides Chief Labour Commissioner S K Upadhyay, the conciliation proceedings were attended by Jet executive director Saroj Dutta, CEO Hafiz Ali and head of operations Capt Mohan. The NAG was also represented by Capt Sam Thomas and Capt Balraman.

Kaushik said the Jet management has agreed to take back the four sacked pilots but Datta said everything is under discussion. "The talks are inconclusive," Dutta said.

Meanwhile, Air India has said that there won't be any increase in fares due to Jet Airways strike. All sector fares are being offered at normal levels and as a national carrier, Air India will ensure that passengers are not inconvenienced or overcharged due to Jet Airways pilots' strike, Air India said.

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