Air India Express Terminate 30 Cabin Crew, Day After Massive Sick Leave

The number of job terminations is likely to increase as the management has given an ultimatum to employees to join work by 4 pm or face action. A total of 85 flights have been canceled due to disruptions, fueling a crisis for the low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Air India now owned by the Tata group.

Employees have been protesting against new employment terms, citing a lack of equality in staff treatment, discrepancies in job roles, and modifications in their compensation package. These events come amid a merger with AIX Connect and recent disruptions at Vistara, also owned by the Tata group.

Air India Express has expressed efforts to minimize inconvenience for guests and is taking appropriate steps against certain individuals who have caused inconvenience to passengers. The termination letter issued to the crew members cited the mass leave as a pre-meditated abstention from work, causing disruption and monetary loss.

The Air India Express Employees Union has accused the airline of mismanagement and unequal treatment of staff but the airline does not recognize the union. The regional labor commissioner has noted genuine grievances and suggested the formation of a high-level committee to address employee grievances and examine the functioning of the HR department for maintaining harmonious industrial relations.