AI pilots threaten to go on strike again

New Delhi: AI’s executive pilots have again held out a threat to go on strike and chakka jaam if the management fails to pay their salaries for August and September by November 1.
“We are going on strike if they (management) do not pay all our salaries’ dues and flying allowances for August and September by this month end and if foreign pilots are paid before us this time. There is no question of accepting even a one rupee salary cut,” Captain V K Bhalla, senior executive pilot, (AI), who led pilots’ strike last month told Financial Chronicle. The decision by pilots was announced after AI chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav’s meetings with executive pilots on Tuesday ended inconclusive. “The CMD has told the pilots that the company does not have sufficient funds to clear all their dues,” an AI official said on the condition of anonymity.
Civil aviation ministry’s joint secretary and AI board member Prashant Sukul and E K Bharat Bhushan, financial advisor along with other senior ministry officials, were also part of the deliberations with pilots.
AI spokesperson confirmed the meeting. “Yes, we had a round of meetings with the executive pilots. None of the employees’ unions, though, was part of it,” Jitendra Bhargava, executive director (corporate communications) AI said without divulging details.
27/10/09 Parul Chhaparia/mydigiatlfc.com

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Categories: Foreign Oct 2009, NACIL Oct 2009