After a two-day strike, the Air India Express cabin crew has decided to end their protest on Thursday, May 9th. The strike began on May 7th, resulting in the cancellation of over a hundred flights due to a section of cabin crew members reporting sick in protest against alleged mismanagement.
However, following negotiations with the airline, the cabin crew has agreed to return to work.
The decision to end the strike came after Air India Express promised to address the concerns raised by the cabin crew. As a result, the airline has agreed to rescind termination letters issued to around 25 cabin crew members and reinstate those who were fired under the pretext of being ‘sick’ employees.
Prior to reaching a resolution, the situation escalated when Air India Express issued termination letters to the striking cabin crew members. The airline accused the crew of engaging in a pre-meditated and coordinated absence from work without justifiable reasons, violating company rules and relevant laws.
Responding to the cancellations and inconvenience faced by passengers, the government intervened to facilitate discussions between the Air India Express Union and the airline’s CEO. The meeting, initiated at the request of Regional Labour Commissioner Ashok Perumalla, aimed to find a middle ground and bring an end to the strike.
The termination notices sent to the affected employees highlighted the airline’s stance on the strike, citing violations of company service rules and laws.
The crew members who had been scheduled to fly on May 7th reportedly informed the Scheduling team at the last minute about their illness, leading to a significant number of absences.
With the strike now resolved, Air India Express can resume its operations, alleviating concerns for travelers who were affected by the flight cancellations.
The agreement between the cabin crew and the airline signifies a step towards resolving the issues that prompted the strike, providing relief for both passengers and employees alike.
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