In a rare move, trade unions belonging to the ruling Congress, as well as those of the Left and the BJP today came together to support the striking pilots of Jet Airways, asking the airline’s management to reinstate the two pilots who were laid off last month and recognise the newly formed National Aviators’ Guild.

Trade union leaders shot off a letter to Jet Airways chief executive officer Wolfgang Prock Schauer saying it was “deplorable” that a “big company” like Jet with a “global brand and image” was pursuing corporate policies which “contravene” the International Labour Organisation’s globally accepted principles of freedom of association, which is also a fundamental right under the Constitution.

“You are pursuing a highly provocative anti-union course of action. We demand the immediate revocation of the termination notices served to the two pilots and that the Jet Airways management recognize the National Aviators Guild,” the letter signed read.

On the other hand, the striking pilots began efforts to rally political support and have sought an appointment with senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a former civil aviation minister. Rudy confirmed that he received a message from the NAG requesting for a meeting with him and said he was “generally sympathetic” towards their cause.

He, however, said the strike by Jet Airways pilots was not an isolated development and was part of the larger crisis the aviation sector is facing, which he alleged was mainly because of government apathy towards the sector. Rudy said he would meet the striking pilots.

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