Air India to reduce number of official unions by over half

Air India and its subsidiaries will now have six recognised unions following an election to reduce the number of trade unions in the airline. Prior to the elections there were fourteen recognised trade unions in the airline and two subsidiaries.

The rationale behind the move to recognise fewer unions was that it would lead to better decision making and efficiency.

Multiplicity of unions led to conflicting demands which impacts resolution of disputes and negotiation of settlements.

Over 84 percent of 12,000 employees voted last week to select the unions ," said airline's director (personnel) N K Jain.

Following the election results which were announced late Wednesday evening, the airline management will grant recognition to Indian Aircraft Technicians Association and All India Aircraft Engineers Association (in its engineering subsidiary). Air India Employees Union and Air Corporation Employees Union ( led by J B Kadian) will be the two recognised unions in the airline and its ground handling subsidiary.

However recognition to the ACEU will be granted only after dispute and court cases pertaining to its office bearers is settled.

The airline's pilots refused to participate in the election process and as a consequence pilots will not have a recognised union. However the management may still keep negotiations open with pilots despite their refusal to participate in polls.

Currently, Indian Commercial Pilots Association which represents Airbus A320 pilots (of erstwhile Indian Airlines) is the only recognised union in the airline while the other union - Indian Pilots Guild was derecognised few years ago following a strike.

" This is a historic election and it will result in a structural change in the airline. We will now sign a deed of recognition with the unions which have secured a majority," Jain added.

The unions which lost the elections will only lose the management recognition but continue to function as trade unions as registration is separate from recognition. But these unions will not be part of negotiations or will not enjoy facilities granted to recognised unions in Air India.

The move to rationalise the number of trade unions in the airline was recommended by an expert committee and approved by the airline board in 2014.

However there were series of litigations challenging the process and writ petitons were filed in Bombay and Madras High Courts seeking a stay on election. However no stay was granted but petitions remain pending in court and election process is still a subject to outcome of court orders.