CHENNAI: The striking Air India pilots may be facing heavy criticism from all sections of society, but one group at least has found their cause worthy of support.The All India Loco Running Staff Association, an umbrella body of Loco Pilots and Motorman in the country, has unanimously adopted a resolution in support of the ongoing Air India pilots’ strike at their 19th bi-annual general body meeting held at Bangalore on Wednesday.
According to a press release, M N Prasad, secretary general of the association, protested against the undemocratic and vindictive actions taken to suppress the Air India pilots’ strike.
Pointing out that the root cause of the stir is the hurried merger of Air India and Indian Airlines, he said, it was disheartening that the serious grievances of those who handled the lives of VVIPs from inland and abroad were not being sorted out. Prasad said, “We wish to state that the pilots were following the direction of the Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh on ‘work first, fly fast and then talk’ for the many years.” On the contrary, the minister had failed to hold talks to settle their grievances, he alleged.
The participants also urged the Centre to roll back punitive actions and sort out the issues through negotiations. Letters in this connection will be sent to the Prime Minister and Civil Aviation Minister soon, a participant told Express from Bangalore.