The Hindu Business Line : 'Indian' strike continues despite Delhi HC order

NEW DELHI: Despite rulings from the Delhi High Court and Chief Labour Commissioner, employees of the State-owned carrier 'Indian' continued their strike, demanding promotional parity with Air India post-merger, disrupting air traffic across the country.

A number of 'Indian' flights were cancelled, leaving many people stranded in airports across the country, even as the Government declared the stir illegal and warned of a lockout.

Flight operations of the domestic carrier were disrupted in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati and many other towns, sources said.

The Delhi High Court had last night held the strike by Indian employees as ''prime facie illegal'' and asked them to resume duty at the earliest in the interest of air travellers.

Mr D.K. Shetty, President of Air Corporation Employees Union, told PTI that they were not aware of any High Court order nor has any notice been served on them.

He said since the Union has not been made a party to the case, ''we are continuing with the strike''.

''We are open to talks. We are ready for settlement. We are urging the management not to be adamant as we cannot put pressure on passengers,'' said Mr J.K. Badola, General Secretary of ACEU, which is spearheading the strike.

An estimated 12,000 ground staff, who were joined by cabin crew later, of Indian went on a nation-wide strike on Tuesday night accusing the management of going back on its assurances to them on their demands for wage arrears and better promotional prospe cts.

Acting tough, the Government on Wednesday suspended 27 striking employees. - PTI

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