502 pilots favour union, only 2 bear the brunt

2/3 of 755 pilots favoured formation of employees union; two pilots were sacked last week

2/3 of 755 pilots favoured formation of employees union; two pilots were sacked last week

Two Jet Airways pilots Captain Sam Thomas and Captain D Balaraman who were sacked for forming an employees union will have to appeal to the airline's CEO to get back their jobs.

Interestingly, 2/3 of 755 pilots, including some on the management, had backed the formation of the National Aviators Guild through an employee survey and poll conducted by the Society for Welfare of Indian Pilots (SWIP).

Pilots wanted a union so that they could have a representation in the Airline Pilots Association, International.

No reason

sacked! Sam Thomas was one of the two pilots sacked for joining a union

"It is surprising that the airline chose to terminate the pilots. Though they haven't specified the reasons, it is obvious they are against the union," said Captain Suhel Jain, president, SWIP.

In a meeting between SWIP members and the airline management on August 4, pilots argued that the committee was consulted before the management initiated action against any pilot.
"We agreed as pilots were sacked in genuine cases earlier. But union formation cannot be a reason to sack pilots," added Jain. "They did not even get a termination notice.

It was unprecedented," said an airline commander said.

No interference

When contacted, an airline spokesperson refused to comment. "The management knew that a union was in formation from day one. It did not happen overnight," a senior pilot said.
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"We don't interfere with other departments. The need of a union was not felt to create trouble for the company," explained Jain.

A senior captain said, "What about the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which had announced a strike on August 18? Is it not a union of airlines to get their demands met?"

What is SWIP?

SWIP is a welfare body, not a union, formed by Jet pilots in 1998. An internal meeting of Jet pilots flayed the airline for not assigning any reasons for sacking, but stopped short of announcing a non-cooperation drive.