Two striking Air India pilots returned to work on Monday as the agitation by over 200 pilots entered the 14th day with Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh asking airline unions to help end the impasse.
"Two members of the now derecognised Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) resumed duties today," an Air India spokesperson said taking the total number of "sick" pilots getting back to work to five.
Trying to find a way out to resolve the deadlock, Singh met leaders of 10 recognised unions of Air India in Delhi and appealed to them to persuade the IPG to call off their strike.
Pradeep Dhobley, General Secretary of AI Engineers' Association, said the unions also jointly urged Singh to "come out with a compromise formula and assure that the (71 sacked) pilots would be reinstated."
The minister sought support of all recognised unions of Air India to restore its financial health and its past glory.
The IPG, which has been dercognised in the wake of the current agitation, was not invited for the meeting. It has been demanding that problems relating to pilots' career progression be sorted out forthwith.
"I had convened this meeting (with the unions) to listen to their views. We discussed the current situation facing Air India, the Turnaround and Financial Restructuring Plans and the airline's future," Singh told reporters after an over 90- minute meeting.
"I sought the support of all the unions to restore its financial health and its earlier 'Maharaja' status," he said.
Singh said the recommendations of the Dharmadhikari Committee, which went into all issues pertaining to HR integration like pay parity and career progression, would be implemented only after all the unions are consulted.
