New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday demanded immediate withdrawal of action against Air India union activists whose services had been suspended or terminated by the management following the two-day strike that led to over 100 flights being cancelled.
In a statement, the CPI-M politburo said the Air India management had acted vindictively against the union leaders.
‘The CPI-M expresses its grave concern at the vindictive attitude of the Air India management to terminate the services of 17 leading union activists and to suspend 15 more leading workers in spite of the withdrawal of strike after discussion with Chief Labour Commissioner (Central). Air India management has arbitrarily withdrawn recognition of Air Corporation Employees Union without assigning any reason,’ the statement said.
It said Air India chairman Arvind Jadhav for the last several months had been ‘refusing to have any dialogue’ with employees and the gag order issued against the employees provoked spontaneous strike action by the employees.
‘The great inconvenience caused to thousands of passengers was due to the policies adopted by the management. The Air India management is solely responsible for the inconvenience of the passengers,’ the statement said.
The party said the role of the Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel was ‘also responsible for the present state of affairs in Air India’.
Demanding immediate revocation of the termination and suspension orders against the union activists and restoration of recognition of the Air Corporation Employees Union, the party said the management should immediately start negotiations with the unions to improve the services of Air India and addressing the legitimate grievances of the employees.
The two-day strike ended Wednesday following the intervention of the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC). The airlines management took a tough stand against the strikers by issuing termination notices to 17 employees and suspending 15 others.
