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Jet sacks trainees, MNS protests
On Friday, Jet Airways sacked 43 junior technicians and the next day the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) took up their cause.
On Friday, Jet Airways sacked 43 junior technicians and the next day the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) took up their cause.
While Jet called it a step to rationalise its workforce and cut costs, MNS has called it ‘injustice to the workers’.
“The airlines announced arbitrarily that it is sacking without giving any notice and we will not allow such harsh steps,” said Gajanand Rane, vice-president of the Hawai Karmachari Sena.
“The workers are paid Rs 5,000 per month and they are hardly a burden on the airlines which pays lakhs as salary to senior officials,” he added.
But the airlines has justified the sacking saying: “As a way to meet the challenges of the economic downturn in the aviation sector we found it necessary to issue termination notices to the trainee junior technicians.”
“These personnel were on fixed term contract and notices have been issued in accordance with terms of their contract and in compliance with law,” the airline said in a statement.
Though Jet has offered alternative jobs, the technicians are unlikely to accept them as their jobs are highly skilled.
