AI pilots to consult lawyers before calling off their strike

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Agitating Air India pilots on Tuesday said they would consult their lawyers before they called off their almost two-month-long strike, soon after the Delhi High Court asked them and airline management to arrive at a settlement.

"The court has made very positive observations. It has said that all pilots should be taken back and no distinction should be made between those sacked and others. We are happy with the court's observations," Tauseef Mukadam, Joint Secretary of the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG), which has been spearheading the strike, said on phone from Mumbai.

"We will decide on calling off the strike after consulting our lawyers and receiving a copy of the High Court order," he said.

Some other IPG leaders here said the court also told the management that all Air India aircraft should fly and all pilots should be allowed to join duty.

They said the High Court has asked all the striking pilots to file affidavits expressing their willingness to resume duty within 48 hours and directed both sides to appear for conciliation proceedings before the Chief Labour Commissioner on July six.

The report of the conciliation proceedings has to be tabled before the High Court on July nine, the IPG leaders said.

Over 400 cockpit crew went on a strike on May 7 on issues relating to career progression after their talks with Air India management and Civil Aviation Ministry officials failed.

The pilots have also launched an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi and Mumbai since June 24.

Air India's revenue loss due to the strike is estimated to have gone up to Rs 600 crore.

It has also forced the airline to operate a curtailed international flight schedule days after the stir began.