Air India cabin crew union threatens management with "non-cooperation"

NEW DELHI: Air India's cabin crew union has threatened the airline management with non-cooperation and accused it of "intentionally creating industrial unrest in the airline to favour private airlines" during the festive season.

In a letter to Air India CMD Rohit Nandan, President of the All-India Cabin Crew Association, Ashwini Ullalkar, accused the management of not honouring mutually agreed upon agreements and implementing the recommendations of the Dharmadhikari Committee report on the rostering of cabin crew.

AI and AICCA are at loggerheads over the rostering of flights for cabin crews as per Directorate General of Civil Aviation norms on Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL), following the recommendation of the Dharmadhikari Committee.

According to a senior AI official, the move has hurt a number of cabin crew members who were getting flights as per their wishes.

He said the move by officers to implement rostering of cabin crew as per DGCA rules was in violation of a stay order by Bombay High Court.

The letter states that showcause notices were being issued to the crew and many were de-rostered from flying services.

Some airline officials said on condition of anonymity that AICCA has resorted to blackmailing tactics.