"We call upon you to initiate dialogue with the Association and withdraw the illegal order," the apex cabin crew body All India Cabin Crew Association (AICCA) said in a letter here today.
On September 11, civil aviation minister Ajit Singh had directed Air India to follow the DGCA guidelines on FDTL (flight duty time limitation) for pilots and cabin crew, saying that a comprehensive analysis had warranted the change.
The directive has resulted in increased duty hours of the cabin crew by varying degrees depending upon the sectors they fly.
Pointing out that the orders were in violation of the apex court ruling on the issue, the association said that it would be forced to move the court for contempt proceedings if the management did not take back the order.
The association and its members are bound by bilateral agreements, settlements, awards, judgements of various courts concerning service conditions of the cabin crew, it said.
"These agreements have been held to be binding and valid by none other than the Supreme Court and any attempt to tamper with them would amount to contempt of the apex court, and other high courts," it said.
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The company's counsel had pleaded before the Delhi High that the 'scheme of amalgamation' for the two airlines provided for protection of all pre-existing agreements, settlements and awards, and that the airline management would honour all agreements, the letter pointed out.
Moreover, the management through the joint counsel of (the then Air India and Indian Airlines) had given an undertaking to the Delhi High Court that it would honour all agreements and settlements until they were replaced through bilateral discussions with the unions, the letter said.
The association has not even been made aware of the alleged orders of the aviation minister, by either the management or the ministry, it said.
Early this week, Indian Commercial Pilots Association, the erstwhile Indian Airlines' pilots body, had also filed a petition in the Delhi High Court for setting aside the ministry orders.