Mumbai, June 13: More than 150 pilots of Air-India have formed a new union following the de-recognition of Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) in April. "A majority of the pilots of the erstwhile IPG had approached us after they formed A-I Line Pilots Association in the wake of the IPG being de-recognised in April," public relations director Jitender Bhargava said here today.
Asked whether the new union has been recognised by the management, Bhargava said, "The pilots have informed the management that the new association has been registered and it enjoyed majority support. We are looking into it." The IPG was de-recognised on April 28 after reconciliation talks with the labour commissioner failed and nearly 180 of the 200 odd pilots walked out ignoring the directive asking pilots not to operate flights to Far East and the Persian Gulf due to SARS and the Iraq war.
The IPG moved The Mumbai High Court against de-recognition and reopening of its office at old airport. The court asked it to submit a representation to the Union minister of civil aviation praying for lifting its de-recognition and reopening of IPG office, which had been sealed by the airline after the pilots' agitation, and decide the matter by July 15. The IPG general secretary Capt V Sansare, when contacted, said they would be making a representation to the minister next week. Bureau Report