15/09/09 UPDATE: Industrial action has been called off at Jet Airlines after the management agreed to the majority of the terms set by workers at the airline. In a message sent to the ITF today, George Abraham , General Secretary of the Aviation Industry Employees Guild, expressed his sincere gratitude to the ITF and its affiliates for the letters of protest in support of the striking Jet Airways pilots. (SEE Update and Jet Airways press release below). I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to all of you for the international support and dedication that made possible our small contribution to turn this conflict into a success of the workers of Jet Airways and the AIEG! Sincerely, Gabriel Mocho Rodriguez Civil Aviation Section Secretary

09/09/09
Urgent appeal for solidarity support for jet airways’ pilots

9 September 2009: Jet Airways, India’s third largest airline, has so far sacked 10 pilots for trying to form a trade union in direct contravention of not only international freedom of association conventions but also Indian national law.  The ITF is calling on affiliates who organise workers in Jet Airways’ destination airports to write to the company as a matter of urgency voicing their grave concern over its actions, demanding revocation of the termination notices and expressing support for the dismissed pilots and their union.   

شاهد رسالة الاحتجاج الأرشيفية

Google free translation: Italiano, Norske, Português, Türk, 中国的, 한국의, Bahasa Melayu, ภาษาไทย, हिंदी, اردو, தமிழ், Kiswahili, Deutsch, Español, Français, Svenska, Русский, العربية

Background

This dispute arose in August when the General Secretary and Joint Secretary of the National Aviators’ Guild (NAG) which was set up in June and registered in July, received letters of dismissal stating that their services were no longer required.  We understand that the Jet management gave no reasons for the dismissals, nor did it follow proper legal procedures.  The company has agreed to reinstate them on the condition that the union is dissolved.

The NAG, an associate- of the ITF-affiliated Aviation Industry Employees' Guild, represents 680 of the 750 Jet Airways pilots. This is the first time since the company’s establishment in 1993 that its workers have been represented by a union.

In a letter dated 26 August, ITF General Secretary David Cockroft warned Jet Airways’ Chief Executive Officer Wolfgang Prock-Schauer that the actions taken against the pilots were illegal (click [here] to see the letter).  However, the dispute has unfortunately continued and the Jet management appears to be taking a hard line approach, sacking more pilots recently in the name of maintaining ‘discipline’.

We understand that government agencies are engaged in trying to broker a settlement to this dispute.  ITF affiliates in India organising across all the transport modes have rallied behind the Jet Airways pilots, as has the 8 leading national trade union centre-s, including HMS ande INTUC, affiliates of ITUC.  We are also coordinating with our sister organisation, IFALPA, on this matter.  Your union’s support is extremely important in bringing further pressure to bear on Jet Airways to move away from its anti-union stance.  

Jet Airways calls at the following airports where ITF affiliates operate:

• Bahrain
  
• Bangkok
  
• Brussels
  
• Colombo
  
• Hong Kong
  
• Kuala Lumpur
  
• Muscat
  
• New York / Newark
  
• Toronto
  
• London (Heathrow)
  
• Dhaka 
  
• Kathmandu
  
• Singapore

Update:

The ITF has received the following letter from Jet Airways on 15 September 2009. Please also see the attached Press Release below:

David Cockroft
General Secretary
International Transport Workers' Federation
ITF House, London SE1 1DR

Dear Mr Cockroft

I refer to your letter addressed to our CEO Mr Wolfgang Prock-Schauer dated 26th August, on whose behalf I am responding.         I am sorry it has taken us some time to respond to you, for reasons I am sure you will understand, as we were busy managing disrupted flights.

You will be glad to know that the NAG and Jet Airways have arrived at an amicable settlement. A press release that we sent out after agreement was reached is attached for your reference.

Thank you for the feelings expressed in your letter, which arose out of a sincere concern for good industrial relations within Jet Airways. We want to assure you that this is also our earnest desire, and the fact that agreement was reached to the satisfaction of all parties is testimony to that fact.

We will continue to work with all parties to maintain good relations within our workforce, as we pursue excellence and build an airline that is amongst the best in the world.

Thank you.

Raja Segran
Sr Vice President UK/Europe
Jet Airways