Black box found,blackmail begins

The black box of the crashed Air India Express flight from Dubai was located in Mangalore today.

The workers went on strike to protest a management order issued Monday,barring leaders of unions from issuing public statements. Two unions of workers belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines — Air India Aircraft Engineers’ Association (AIAEA) and Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) representing ground staff,cabin crew and technical staff — described the directive as a “gag order”. They went on strike after show cause notices were served on two union leaders.

Forty-five flights were affected today,six of which were international flights. “If the strike continues,the situation is likely to get worse and will bring to a halt certain crucial sectors,” said an AI official.

Chief Labour Commissioner S K Mukhopadhyay has called a reconciliation meeting of unions and management Wednesday. “Such a strike is an act by irresponsible employees,that… harasses passengers,” said Labour Secretary P C Chaturvedi.

There is no immediate plan of invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act. However,Home Secretary G K Pillai said,“Clearly,it seems that AI employees have no sense of responsibility.” AI CMD Arvind Jadhav told NDTV that striking workers may be sacked.

The 150-odd office-bearers of the unions draw salaries as workers of the airline,but do only union-related work. They are allowed almost unlimited free passage on AI throughout the country over and above the entitlement of the rest.

The strike comes months after another illegal strike by management-grade pilots of Indian Airlines last September,in protest against a proposed 50 per cent salary cut. The AI management had then nearly decided on a lockout,but the Prime Minister had advised against it. AI pilots and engineers are among the highest-paid,not just within the company but also among peers in private airlines.

The strike began in Mumbai around 12.30 in the afternoon and soon spread to major metros like Kolkata,Hyderabad and Chennai,with employees “walking out”.