Date:16/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/16/stories/2008101655080100.htm

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Jet staff protest retrenchment

About 1,000 employees sacked

— Photo: Paul Noronha

TURBULENT TIMES: Employees of Jet Airways outside the airline’s office in Mumbai on Wednesday after hearing of the decision to lay off nearly 1,000 employees.

Mumbai: About 300 Jet Airways employees, including cabin crew, staged a protest on Wednesday outside the airline’s office here against the sacking of nearly 1,000 staffers.

“The (Jet) management cannot take away our jobs all of a sudden and without any prior notice,” a cabin crew told PTI.

The employees, who staged the protest in suburban Andheri, are also contemplating seeking political intervention. The protesters included customer care employees and flight dispatchers.

Jet Airways Executive Director B Saroj Dutta had earlier said that the airline laid off up to 1,000 jobs with a view to rationalising its operations. The entire force of unconfirmed staff is being laid off on a 30-day compensation package. “It is a part of handling economic slowdown and carefully rationalising operations,” he said, adding that the downsizing is based on capacity, load-factor and traffic patterns.

About 800 unconfirmed and under-probation employees had been given service termination letters.

“These people were recently hired... This is being done to strengthen the economic viability of the company,” Mr. Dutta, who was flanked by CEO Wolfgang Prock Schauer, said.

The airlines has rolled back all expansion plans, besides cutting flights in winter by 15 per cent. “This is the first time since Jet Airways has been formed that employees are being sacked for reasons other than non-performance.”

— PTI

MNS to take up issue

Rahi Gaikwad reports:

A group of sacked Jet Airways employees met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray here. An MNS delegation will meet the Jet management on Thursday to discuss the issue, said Gajanan Rane, vice-president of MNS’ labour outfit.

Mr. Thackeray reportedly announced that the MNS would not allow any Jet flight to fly over Maharashtra if the employees were not taken back.