Threatened by Air India’s decision to hire more pilots, striking Air India Pilots today questioned the move saying the cash-strapped national carrier would not be able to afford paying high salaries to the new recruits.
“We have serious doubts about the Civil Aviation Ministry’s move (to hire pilots). Whom do they want to benefit? At a time when the company is under severe financial crunch, can these new pilots be afforded at a salary which is double of ours?” Capt. Anil Kumar Rao, Joint Secretary of the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) that is spearheading the 30-day long agitation, said here.
He was talking to reporters after leading a ‘silent protest march’ near the Parliament House. The protesting pilots, who were in uniforms, gathered at the Jantar Mantar and marched towards Parliament House but were prevented by the police from proceeding any further. The IPG also took out a similar march in Mumbai.
Mr. Rao also appealed to the management to come forward for a dialogue and find ways to end their protest.
“The agitation is into its 30th day. We appeal to the AI management to come forward and have a dialogue. We want to fly. But for that somebody from the management or the ministry should hear us,” he said.
The protesters also questioned Civil Aviation Ministry’s move to hire new pilots who would be paid much higher salaries to run Air India’s long-haul international operations.
“Such a move by the ministry can jeopardise flight passenger safety. Hiring foreign pilots without study of their track records could lead to compromise with safety issue,” Mr. Rao alleged.
“We have some issues and difficulties related to our careers and working conditions but they are not listening to us considering it as our demands,” said First Officer G.S. Hunjan.
The pilots also claimed that the termination of the services of 101 of their colleagues was “not done in a legal manner” by the management.
Keywords: Air India crisis, Civil Aviation Ministry, Ajit Singh
Dear pilots,
The day you created chaos, resulting in huge inconvenience to the travelling public, unmindful of the image of the organisation, you lost all public sympathy. you have no right to upset the travel plans of your customers. you have forgotten one word for long "service". Sorry. you dont deserve any sympathy.
I think it is too late for talks or dialog now. The striking IPG
pilots did not give due notice, and went on strike defying orders from
the High Court. Ajit Singh has played this by the book, and he is well
within his rights to insist that the striking pilots reapply should
they wish employment. Even that, according to me, is too generous and
lenient. Having caused 400 crores loss to the exchequer and Indian
taxpayer, along with inconveniencing countless individuals and
families who had made travel plans during the vacation season, the
errant pilots must now face the music. No sympathy must be shown
towards them. I applaud Ajit Singh for his principled stand in the
matter.
lol ...these pilots complainign about legal manners ...do they do stike in legal manners ...causing disruptions to passengers
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