No more strikes: Govt may take away workmen status from pilots

This is the first time that the government has moved this proposal requesting labour ministry to remove pilots from the ‘workmen’ category.

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This is the first time that the government has moved this proposal requesting labour ministry to remove pilots from the ‘workmen’ category.

The government has set the ball rolling on a proposal to remove pilots from the ‘workmen’ category under the Industrial Disputes Act — a move that will take away their rights to go on strikes.

The proposal, which has been approved by civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju Pusapati, will now be taken up with the labour ministry.

A senior official in the ministry of civil aviation said, “We are going to ask the labour ministry to remove pilots from the workmen category. Pilots are highly paid and should not be clubbed with other workmen. Removal of pilots from this category will mean they cannot go on strikes.”

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Currently, employees in the ‘workmen’ category which includes pilots can go on a strike by giving 15-day prior notice to the management.
The official added that Raju has already asked civil aviation secretary V Somasundaran to take up the matter with the labour ministry.
This is the first time that the government has moved this proposal requesting labour ministry to remove pilots from the ‘workmen’ category.

The proposal to remove commanders from the ‘workmen’ category was first proposed in 2009 when 650 pilots in Jet Airways disrupted operations for five days.