Thaindian News

Mumbai, May 27 (IANS) Air India Thursday hit back at striking unions by withdrawing its recognition to the powerful Air Corporations Employees Union (ACEU) and the All India Aircraft Engineers Association (AIAEA) and accusing them of causing harassment to passengers and revenue loss to the airline.
Earlier in the day, Air India suspended at least 40 employees, mainly union activists, and sealed the offices of both the unions - which claim a combined membership of over 15,000 - located near Mumbai airport.

In a statement here Thursday evening, AI said the two unions ACEU and AIAEA had resorted to the illegal strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, causing harassment to innocent passengers, revenue loss and disruptions of flights nationwide besides international destinations.

AI also accused the two unions of indulging in regular violations of the Code of Discipline and of the settlements, and of acting in a manner resulting in the disruption of the normal working of the company, and breach of industrial peace and harmony.

“One of the most objectionable action of the AIAEA was that in breach of office order dated 27.7.2009, it approached the media criticising the systems and procedures of the company,” AI said.

The airline further said that there is no statutory provision for the recognition of trade unions in the company, as per the Trade Union Act, 1926, and the Industrial Dispute Act.

It pointed out that when the erstwhile Indian Airlines Corporation (IAC) recognised the ACEU in May 1959, the terms and conditions stated:”… that it is clearly understood and recognised that IAC is a public utility service operating round-the-clock everyday and has the duty of serving the travelling public.”

Besides, the Code of Discipline in the industry, which permits recognition of a union claiming membership of at least 15 percent of workers in an establishment, is recommendatory and has no statutory force, AI said.

The recognition granted by the erstwhile IAC to the ACEU and the AIAEA said: “They (workers) are committed to observe constitutional means and not to resort to agitational steps and/or concerted action or any other means which may have the effect of interrupting or disrupting the work of the Company and/or other normal functioning of various sections and departments and/or the operations of services of the Company, which may have effect of causing the delays to the Company’s services or inconvenience to its passengers or public.”

AI also dismissed certain media reports that claimed the management kept postponing the meeting with the union representatives.

“The factual position is that the meeting was scheduled at 1100 hours and not at 1500 hours. The office-bearers of AIAEA came for the scheduled meeting. The meeting with ACEU was delayed due to clash of other meetings with the ministry etc; and the ACEU, therefore, left for the scheduled conciliation meeting,” AI said.