Union Calls Out Air India Express for Charge-Sheeting Striking Cabin Crew

In a recent development, the Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) has voiced its concerns over what it describes as "unfortunate and unfair labour practices" by the airline's management. This criticism comes in the wake of the alleged issuance of charge-sheets to approximately 200 cabin crew members who reported sick during a strike in the previous month. The union, in a letter addressed to Air India Express chief Alok Singh, highlighted the potential negative impacts such actions could have on both the company and its clientele.

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The controversy stems from an incident on June 5, when the airline's management reportedly issued charge-sheets to around 200 cabin crew members, giving them a 72-hour window to respond. This move followed a strike on May 7, where cabin crew members protested against what they termed as mismanagement within the airline, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights. In response to the strike, Air India Express management terminated the services of 25 cabin crew members and issued warnings to others, threatening similar actions unless they resumed work. However, the strike concluded on May 9 after a conciliation meeting facilitated by the Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner Central in Delhi.

The union's letter, penned by AIXEU president K.K. Vijayakumar, criticized the reopening of settled issues and the issuance of charge-sheets as constituting unfair labour practices. It was pointed out that during conciliation, an agreement was reached that led to the withdrawal of termination orders for the 25 affected cabin crew members. Vijayakumar urged the management to seek cooperative opportunities to enhance industrial relations rather than pursuing punitive actions that could exacerbate tensions.

Furthermore, the union argued that following the settlement on May 9, employees were ready to resume duties immediately. However, operational challenges persisted, notably flight cancellations attributed to data loss from newly introduced software. According to AIXEU, this was due to inadequate backup measures and insufficient training for handling the software, issues for which cabin crew members were unfairly blamed.

This situation underscores ongoing tensions between Air India Express management and its cabin crew, highlighting broader concerns regarding labour practices and operational management within the airline. The union's appeal for cooperation over confrontation reflects a desire for stability and improved relations moving forward, emphasizing the importance of addressing underlying issues to prevent future disputes.