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Around 650 pilots of the private air carrier Jet Airways will go on an indefinite strike on midnight of September 7 to protest sacking of two of their colleagues.
"We have handed over the mandatory 14-day notice to the management, stating that we will strike work from the midnight of September 7," the recently-formed union of Jet Airways pilots, the National Aviators Guild's President Girish Kaushik told PTI.
The Guild claims the support of around 650 pilots in the company. Jet Airways, however, has refused to recognise the union.
Earlier this month, the airline had given marching orders to two of its senior pilots, Capt Sam Thomas and Capt Balaraman, through an e-mail saying that their services were not required.
The pilots, however, termed the sacking as an 'act of vendetta' as the two were instrumental in forming a trade union body in the airline. Jet Airways termed the pilots' action as illegal and said their strike would cause inconvenience to passengers.
"Jet Airways is a scheduled airline and disruption of flights would not only be contrary to the law but also opposed to public interest," a Jet Airways statement said.
However, the Guild is determined to fight for its rights. "We are very much within the rules in calling a strike for the reinstatement of our colleagues. If airlines can call for a strike to press their demands, we also have a right to do so," Kaushik said.