Concerns over safety: Air India pilots unions raise objection over ‘threats’ for asking sick leave

financialexpress.com:

Air India pilots unions have raised concern against the alleged threat that the airline has given the cockpit staff if they report sick for duty. 

What have the unions said?

Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) and Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) have written to Air India senior VP for flight operations Manish Uppal saying that it is in the interest of flight safety that pilots can report sick without the “fear of reprisal”.

Air India has allegedly threatened pilots with “appropriate measures” to be taken in case they report sick for work. 

Copies of the letter have been distributed to various recipients, including Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran, DGCA Vikram Dev Dutt, and Air India Managing Director and CEO Campbell Wilson. The communication states, “We wish to convey our apprehension and disapproval regarding recent correspondences suggesting the potential imposition of punitive actions for reporting illness.”

The unions highlighted their awareness of the necessity for a productive and efficient workplace, and said it is pivotal to “acknowledge the significance of pilot’s health and its cascading effect on flight safety”. The letter cautioned about situations where pilots might feel “intimidated” or “pressured” to undertake flights despite health issues, posing a potential risk to flight safety.

While the IPG comprises pilots responsible for operating wide-body aircraft at Air India, ICPA represents pilots who fly narrow-body Airbus 320 family aircraft for the carrier.

Expressing their concerns, the unions said that threatening employees in such a manner violates “ ethical principles” and also goes against the Aircraft Rules Act, 1937.

Their letter said that the DGCA prioritises the well-being of pilots, both