Biman suffers as it is again hit by avoidable sudden turmoil

_By Raquib Siddiqi Dhaka : Biman Bangladesh Airlines has again experienced sudden turmoil. This time work abstention by a section of pilots was the cause. Flight disruption, revenue and image loss was the outcome. The situation developed following a dispute between the management of the airlines and pilots? association (BAPA). Good sense was found lacking and path of conflict was chosen instead of negotiated settlement. The undesirable action by the pilots has not only hit Biman's commercial interest, but also hit interest of a large number of passengers. Some of them_ at no fault of their own_ may be in danger of losing their jobs due to their failure to join works on stipulated time. Fortunately, the crisis was shortlived because of the intervention of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She assured the pilots that their point of view would be considered and asked them to resume flying at a tripartite meeting on October 30. Representatives of Bangla-desh Airline Pilots Association (BAPA), Civil Aviation Minister GM Quader and Chairman of Biman Board Jamal Uddin Ahmed were present. BAPA acting President Captain Zakir Hussain said, "Our discussion with the Prime Minister has been fruitful. She has assured us of settling our demands." Earlier on October 29 Captain MA Basit Mahtab, General Secretary of BAPA and Captain Shah Alam went to the residence of the Prime Minister. But the Prime Minister could not see them and sent her Assistant Per-sonal Secretary Saifuzza-man Shikhor with her message. On October 30 Biman resumed normal operation as the 56 'sick' pilots went back to work calling off their strike. The core issue The dispute between pilots and management started following an order on September 29 in which the retirement age of pilots was increased from 57 to 62 years, but some existing benefits were withdrawn. The benefits included rehabilitation and insurance if a pilot loses his or her wings for medical reasons. The pilots opposed the withdrawal of existing benefits and alleged that the management took the decision without talking to the pilots. In early October, some pilots challenged the management decision at the High Court. The management on the other hand alleged that pilots went to the court without taking the issue to them. On October 22, pilots started protesting by denying flying more than hours stipulated in the agreement between BAPA and Biman. On October 26 they started calling in sick when Biman withdrew four pilots from flight duty. Initially, the demonstration was marked by delays in some flights. But flight cancellations and delays started to increase after Biman authorities served show-cause notices upon some BAPA members on different grounds. Later the management withdrew four pilots from flight duty, which infuriated pilots and at least 56 pilots called in sick to protest. This led to large-scale flight disruptions including cancellation of flights. Biman said the stalemate hurt the image of the airline, increased expenditure as well as caused sufferings to passengers. The management threatened that stern action would be taken against pilots on strike if they do not join work within 48 hours. The countdown started at 11:00am October 29. The pilots said they would not call off their strike unless the authorities concerned cancel the flight-duty-suspension orders for four pilots and show-cause notices issued against some others since October 20. On October 29, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina intervened and the crisis was resolved, at least temporarily. An avoidable dispute From the chronology of the crisis, it become apparent that, it could be easily avoided had the path of negotiated settlement was taken. Since, the core issue is under the consideration of the court, we cannot discuss the merit of the core issue. So, I cannot analyze it, but we can discuss the way it was done. In fact, the problem originated from the way the decision of the management came. Otherwise, why a great decision like enhancement of retirement age by five long years would be taken by most of the pilots, the way they took? What the pilots-younger ones in general-did not like is the conditional enhancement. "We wanted enhancement of retirement age, but not on condition", one of the pilot leaders told me. It is not understood why the management avoided the path of negotiation before taking final decision in this regard. Negotiation was certainly the best option. The negotiation could made pilots realise that to get great benefit like enhancement of retirement age, they are to forego certain benefits they are now enjoying. According to law of equity, there should not be two losses and there should not be two gains. None should get both. However, everything is not lost. The two sides should sit together and thrash out the differences. While negotiating, parties involved must keep in mind the greater interest of Biman_ the national organisation they are serving. The golden goose should be kept alive. So, building Biman as an operationally, commercially and financially healthy dynamic airline should be the key point in settling the dispute.