Air India pilots go on strike to protest pay cuts

Mumbai: It was a harrowing Saturday for passengers travelling by Air India flights as 150 executive pilots went on mass sick leave from Friday midnight to protest pay cuts.
Chaos prevailed at Mumbai and Delhi airports as several Air India flights were affected by the sudden decision. Air India claimed its operations were unaffected and only 11 flights have been cancelled till Saturday evening.
The Air India management was scheduled to meet the executive pilots on Monday to sort out the issue. However, the pilots are willing to discuss the matter till Air India management rolls back the recently announced reduction in the productivity-linked incentive (or PLI). The proposed PLI cut would affect 7000 employees.
“Efforts are being made to maintain normalcy in domestic routes. All international flights have been operated as per normal schedule, with no executive pilots of Air India reporting sick,” said Air India spokesperson.
On Wednesday, the airline board a PLI cut of 25-50%, depending on the monthly incentive drawn by an employee. The PLI cut, however, was not applicable for expat pilots and employees who are members of the Indian Commercial Pilot’s Association. If finally enforced, it would affect 160 executive pilots who complain that the decision was taken without any consultations.
27/09/09 Economic Times

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Categories: NACIL Sep 2009