Air India pilots to stage silent protest march to Parliament

Demanding immediate government action to save the airlines and to protest against the management's decisions affecting the cash-strapped national carrier, a section of Air India pilots and employees will stage a "silent march" to Parliament on Thursday.
 
The Indian Commercial Pilot's Association (ICPA)-pilots' body of erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) would stage the march to Parliament on November 19, when the winter session begins.

ICPA President Captain Shailendra Singh, in a letter to other unions, said "...industrial unrest is at its peak, which has been deliberately created by Arvind Jadhav, who is running the company with preconceived mind of damaging the very existence of the our company."

Alleging the Air India CMD was not considering the cost-cutting suggestions given by the unions, he said "this clearly shows that he is not interested in implementing or taking our advices in consideration, but more interested in working towards closure of our company."

Terming it "a last chance to save the airline", Singh sought the participation of the other employees unions. Meanwhile, ACEU has decided to support the protest march by the ICPA.

"We would be joining the pilots on November 19, when winter session of Parliament would being," J B Kadian, General secretary of ACEU told PTI.