9 May
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
In a significant turn of events, the Air India Express crisis has been resolved following a crucial meeting between the management and disgruntled cabin crew members. Nearly 170 flights, both international and domestic, were cancelled due to the strike that paralyzed the airline’s services. However, after discussions facilitated by the Office of the Labour Commissioner (Central), a section of the cabin crew decided to end the strike and return to their duties.
The standoff stemmed from allegations of mismanagement within the airline, prompting employees to take mass sick leave. This action led to the issuance of termination letters to 25 striking employees earlier on Thursday. However, following the conciliation meeting, the management agreed to review the concerns raised by the cabin crew and rescind the termination letters.
The Regional Labour Commissioner’s intervention, urging the airline to address the employees’ grievances in a meaningful manner, played a pivotal role in resolving the crisis. The decision to withdraw the strike and retract termination letters marks a significant step towards restoring normalcy to Air India Express operations.