HC orders Air India management and pilots talk to be held on daily basis

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today directed the Air India management and its pilots to hold conciliation process on a day-to-day basis before the Deputy Labour Commissioner to expeditiously resolve issues relating to reinstatement of sacked pilots and career progression.

Accepting the interim report filed by the Conciliating officer about the progress of ongoing negotiations between the parties, Justice Reva Khetrapal directed the pilots and management officials to appear before the officer tomorrow.

"It is directed that the conciliation process to take place on day-to-day basis from tomorrow to enable the management to consider the issues pertaining to the pilots reinstatement (whose services were terminated due to their strike) and their salaries," the judge said.

Seeking final report from the conciliator after the talk between the parties, the court posted the matter for July 13 for further hearing.

Following the management's assurance before the court to consider reinstatement of the 101 pilots whose services were terminated, the pilots, owing allegiance to the Indian Pilots Guild ( IPG), had on July 3 called off their 58 day-old strike.

Over 400 pilots had gone on strike on May 7 demanding better career progression.