What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: In a major blow to TATA’s India Express, the Regional Labour Commissioner Central (RLC) has sent a show-cause notice to the CEO of Air India Express stating violations of section 33 of the Industrial Disputes Act (ID Act), 1947 where in the employees have alleged that the company has violated the room sharing policy while the case was under conciliation.
As per the Show-cause notice copy accessed by The New Indian, the labour commissioner has stated on why a legal action should not be initiated against the Air India Express management for the violation of section 33 of the Industrial disputes Act.
As per the complaint filed by the employees, a customary benefit which they were entitled to for the past 19 years has been altered without taking any consent or issuing a prior notice.
Meanwhile, the management had replied saying that ‘the room sharing has been consistent with the practices in Air Asia, which is now part of the Air India Express following the merger.
As per the complaint raised, all the cabin crew members were accommodated in a single occupancy during their layover for the past 19 years. However, as per the new rules the crew members have been asked to accommodate in a room sharing basis which is been opposed as it affects the privacy and flight safety since the crew members will not get uninterrupted sleep before the flight.
The above-mentioned issues certainly create fatigue and flight safety hazard because the crew member may not be able to perform the duty with alert if they are unable to get uninterrupted rest before the flight.
As per the DGCA rules, it says that the flight crew members should get 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep before the flight.
A recent incident on November 12th where a crime committed by one of the cabin crew members wherein a female cabin crew member and three of her family members were killed by a male cabin crew member have led to shockwaves among the employees. In the complaint filed, this incident was highlighted citing that the accused had created a nuisance with his colleague who shared the room days before the unfortunate incident.
The crew members in their letter have suggested that they are ready to compromise for a three-star accommodation instead of five-star so that the cost will be almost the same.
The employees have also highlighted that the management has been turning their back when the grievances were addressed earlier.
A notice has also been sent to the CEO of the Air India Express on 04-08-23 by the RLC regarding the change of service condition during the pendency of the conciliation proceedings in the dispute before the authority.
The management has however started implementing the order against the directions mentioned in the notice dated 04-08-23.
Nearly thousands of cabin crew employees are hoping for a positive response from the management on the matter.
Airlines such as Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Qatar airways have been providing single occupancy for its crew members during layovers.
