Proceedings over Jet sacking pilots adjourned to Sept 14

The air carrier's management has been told to submit its position in writing on or before September 7, the Regional Labour Commissioner, Mumbai, said.

"Both the parties were called for a conciliatory meeting which lasted for four hours. Both Jet Airways and the National Aviator's Guild (representing Jet Airways' pilots) were sticking to their stands. At last, both sides have been advised to comply with the regulations of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947," the Commissioner said.

Under these provisions, both parties are under legal obligations and the union is under obligation not to proceed on strike during the process of conciliatory proceedings, he said.

The National Aviator's Guild (NAG), which represents Jet Airways pilots, said that it stood by its stand to go on a strike from September 7 to protest the Jet management sacking two pilots.

"The strike call stays," NAG President Girish Kaushik said after the proceedings. Around  650 pilots of Jet Airways owe allegiance to NAG.

"We had a long meeting with the Labour Commissioner along with the (Jet Airways) management. We are hopeful that some solution will be found before September 7.

However, as of now, our strike stays as scheduled," Kaushik said, adding, however, "that if the issue is resolved, then nothing like it."

The union has been advised to submit its written say on or before September 7. Both parties have also been advised not to precipitate matters further, the Labour Commissioner said.

Jet Airways in a statement said that the conciliation proceedings would now resume on September 14 and that the Conciliation Officer has said NAG cannot resort to strike or cause disruption to the operations on September 7 or thereafter, pending completion of conciliation proceedings.

"In view of the above, Jet Airways assures the travelling public that normalcy in its operations will be maintained," the statement said.