New Delhi: A day after the Air India employees strike was called off, Air India has taken action. It has sacked 58 employees, 24 others have been suspended, and the two trade unions instrumental in the flash strike have been derecognised.
The Civil Aviation Minister has made it clear that the unions could expect no mercy.
"I have nothing to do with the decision of sacking anybody. Government cannot be interfering in the management decisions," said Praful Patel, Union Minister, Civil Aviation.
But trouble is far from over. One of the derecognised unions has called for another strike on June 12, and are pushing for other unions to join in the protest.
"We have given legal notice to Air India. We will go on a strike from June 12," said Y V Raju, All India Aircraft Engineering Union.
The man that the unions are out to get is Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav, who according to sources may have a court case on his hands, if the Union leaders go ahead with their plans.
"He has entered the industry only to support the private operators. From day one he has closed all the formidable sectors of Air India and supported the private operators," said Dinakar Shetty, ACEU Leader.
It took the whole of Thursday to clear the backlog created by the two-day strike, but with unions gearing up for a fresh battle with the Air India management, more turbulent times lie ahead for India's national carrier.