AI fires staffer in Rome, ‘rehires’ for return leg

THE EMPLOYEE’S SERVICES WERE TERMINATED AGAIN ON HIS ARRIVAL IN INDIA

NEW DELHI: : Air India sacked a contract employee “with immediate effect” while he was in Rome as part of its cabin crew, and then had to persuade him to continue performing his duties on the return flight to New Delhi three days later.

The employee, who received the letter of termination on July 2, wrote back asking how he was supposed to return to India if he was no longer an employee of the national carrier.

Realising its mistake, the airline asked him to serve as cabin crew on a July 5 flight with 250 passengers on board. His services were then terminated again on his arrival in India.

Airline officials from the crew management system described this faux pas as a “safety hazard” as members of the crew are not supposed to work under stress.

The crew member’s services were terminated on the grounds that he had taken more off days than he was entitled to, and that had been “repeatedly reporting sick”. He had been sacked once before — in 2016 — but was reinstated soon after.

“On July 1, I operated flight AI-123 (Delhi to Rome) and on July 2, I was informed that my services have been terminated with immediate effect. I wrote an email to the IFS (in-flight service) department saying I am in Rome and cannot come back as staff on duty since I am no more in the service, and I cannot come back as a passenger because I don’t have ticket and visa,” said the employee, who asked not to be named.

CONTINUED ON P 17