It is time for private airlines to rethink their stance on pilot unions

The passive-aggressive stance of private airlines discouraging unionisation among pilots needs to change

I  don’t know how many readers will remember the drama that led to the formation of India’s first private airline pilots union — National Aviators’ Guild — in 2009. The airline did everything to prevent the formation of the guild and even dismissed two pilots who were the prime movers. The two were subsequently reinstated after the rest of the pilots went on strike. In one of his emotionally charged moments — and with Naresh Goyal there were many such — the chairman of the airline even referred to the pilots’ as “terrorists”, escalating the matter. Trade unions across India