Several flights of Kingfisher were cancelled today due to a strike by pilots to protest against the non-payment of wages for almost five months.
Three flights from Mumbai and several across the airline’s entire network were cancelled.
An airline spokesperson said, “A certain section of employees have decided to stay away from duties due to salary payments not being credited to the bank accounts of all employees by Friday. Kingfisher wishes to state that more than 75 per cent of employees have actually received their promised salaries on Friday”.
“We have further promised that the balance of our employees will receive their salaries by Monday”, the spokesman said.
The passengers booked on these flights have either been re-booked or given refunds, he said.
This is the third time in the last twelve days that the pilots have struck work. The earlier strike on July 11 saw 12 flights getting cancelled.
The strike on July 2 was called off after a few hours with the management promising to pay salaries to some sections of staff from July 6.
Kingfisher is, at present, carrying out truncated domestic and international operations with about 15 aircraft, in place of 64.
A large number of its flight engineers have reportedly quit over the past five months, primarily due to delayed payments. In April, around 200 engineers reported sick as a mark of protest over the issue.
The airline, which has not posted profit since inception in May 2005, has reported a loss of Rs.1,151.50 crore in the March quarter, has a debt of over Rs.7,500 crore and almost an equal amount of accumulated losses.
It is a genuine demand that all the employees should get their full
wages, bonus and other due payments timely. But it can’t be from
borrowed funds of a company unless it has the source to generate more
income. In the case of King Fisher Airlines there is no scope for
getting further funds from financing institutions as a large sum is
already due to commercial banks. As has come out in the media the
financial management of King Fisher Airlines has not been all that
good. It is now almost like a sinking vessel. There is no meaning in
crying over split milk. This has happened not in one day or in short
period. Employees could have said good bye to the gradually to the
company finding the pathetic situation of the airline. It is
meaningless that government extend a helping hand to this company as
such mismanaged corporates are not few in our country and why should
tax payers shoulder such burden.
It is appalling that in India, employers can harass employees by not
paying their salary/wages, in full, and on time!!! Why pay "more than
75 per cent of employees ... their promised salaries"? WHY NOT pay
100% of the employees, all their salaries/bonuses/expenses as per
their Employment Contract, and on the pay due date? Bankruptcy laws in
most countries protect employees before creditors and shareholders -
is it different in India?
How can anyone live without salary for "almost five months"?
Are business barons getting away with blue murder, again, because of their powerful connections with politicians/bureaucrats/judges? Can any passenger feel confident that a cash-strapped industry will not cut corners on preventative maintenance – vital for this industry?
Will nothing change in the Indian airline industry until, God forbid,
there is a major air disaster?
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