Conciliation proceedings to end Jet pilots' stir begin

New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) Jet Airways pilots and the
management were Friday working out a settlement to end their
four-day old stir as the two sides held marathon talks before
the Chief Labour Commissioner to break the deadlock that has
severely disrupted flights affecting thousands of passengers.

The pilots and the management representatives came
face to face for the first time since the stir started on
Tuesday in the backdrop of a broad understanding reached by
them last night through the mediation of Congress MP Sanjay
Nirupam and some others.

Labour minister Mallikarjun Kharge said he was
confident of a solution, which he said he is expecting "within
48 hours."

Besides Chief Labour Commissioner S K Upadhyay, the
conciliation proceedings are being attended by Jet executive
director Saroj Dutta, CEO Hafiz Ali and head of operation
Capt Mohan.

The pilots' body National Aviators Guild (NAG) is
being represented by its president Capt Girish Kaushik and
Capt Sam Thomas. Kaushik has expressed confidence of a quick
solution.

As per the broad understanding, all the four sacked
pilots are to be reinstated and the chargesheets issued
against some of the agitators will be withdrawn while the
Registrar of the Trade Unions will look into the fulfilment of
criteria of registration of the NAG.

On their part, the pilots will join their duties once
a formal agreement is arrived at before the Chief Labour
Commissioner.

Thursday night, Jet chairman Naresh Goyal met Nirupam
following which the broad understanding was arrived at.

The outlines of this understanding were later approved
with some changes by agitating pilots in Mumbai. PTI SGI
PMR