Air India Express union denounces unfair labour practices, seeks government intervention

The Air India Express cabin crew union has denounced unfair labor practices on the part of the airline, including in issuing charge sheets to its members, and sought the intervention of the labor commissioner to solve problems.

The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, has written a letter to the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) in this regard.

This communication also comes at a time when a conciliation procedure is underway before the CLC (C) on the disputes between cabin crew members and the airline management.

The union alleged that the management is adopting various measures which are not conducive to the creation of good industrial relations.

“…their actions deteriorate industrial relations already affected by their unfair labor practices and violations of labor laws,” he said in the letter dated June 28.

There was no comment from Air India Express.

Among other issues, the union claimed that indictments had been issued to cabin crew who were granted sick leave from May 6 to 8 and that an investigation was underway against some union members.

On May 7, around 200 cabin crew members of Tata-owned Air India Express went on strike to protest alleged mismanagement at the airline, which led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

As a result, the airline’s management dismissed 25 cabin crew members and warned the others to return to work or face the same consequences.

On May 9, the strike was called off after a conciliation meeting between union representatives and management convened by the CTC(C). The dismissal letters were also subsequently withdrawn.

In the June 28 letter, the union claimed that the problems had arisen “due to the monopolistic and intransigent behavior of management” and requested the intervention of the CLC (C).