Putting the agitation of a section of executive pilots behind, Air India has set up an official committee to look into the problems of its employees.
The committee is likely to begin meetings from next week with at least 14 unions representing a cross-section of staffers, including pilots.
The panel, which is a sub-committee of the Air India Board, was set up on Tuesday following which the executive pilots withdrew the agitation against slashing of their productivity-linked incentive (PLI) and flying allowance by 50 per cent.
Besides Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav, the committee comprises Civil Aviation Ministry’s Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser E.K. Bharat Bhushan and Joint Secretary Prashant Sukul.
The senior pilots had called off their stir on Tuesday after Air India CMD informed them that the decision to cut PLI and flying allowance had been kept in abeyance till the committee heard the employees and examined all related issues in the context of the turnaround plan for the airline. The panel would submit its recommendations to the Board within two months.
Separate discussions
Discussions would be held with the trade unions separately, the representatives said. The unions would give their representations to the government on how they can contribute in making the national air carrier a profit-making entity.
The trade unions in Air India representing pilots, engineers, officers, cabin crew, technicians, ground handling staff and other employees.
