Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
Air India

Adding to the series of interesting events, there has been yet another twist in the Air India privatisation tale. The pilots want the airlines to clear their salary dues before accepting the proposal of privatization.

Due to tough financial conditions, Air India had resorted salary cuts in 2012. Since then, arrears have been accumulating even as the certain section of employees accepted revised pay scales. The arrears to be paid to the 27,000-odd staff of Air India that includes pilots and cabin crew are estimated to be around ₹1,200 crores. Out of the total amount, about ₹400 crore is due for pilots.

Now, as the government looks at privatisation and other options to revive the airline, pilots want the salary dues to be cleared first before any decision is taken at the highest level amid uncertainty over the future course of action. According to the pilots, if the government privatizes the airline they would like to start on a ‘clean slate’ rather than just outsourcing the current problems such as salary arrears to the new investor. This problem was created by the management and they have to first resolve the issue.

While discussions are still at initial stages when it comes to the idea of privatization.

By Bharat