The Air India pilots have given the company’s management a three-day deadline to meet their demands.
The pilots warned in a letter delivered Monday evening to the aviation secretary (also Air India Chairman and Managing Director Rajiv Bansal) that if the illegal wage drop and related concerns are not resolved within three days, they will seek justice through industrial action.
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The airline’s Airbus and Boeing pilot unions, the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Guild (ICPA) and Indian Pilots’ Guild (IPG), wrote the letter, which represents over 900 pilots. “International passenger services to/from India began on December 15th, 2021, and all airlines are reversing the COVID cut; if the issues related to an illegal 55 percent pay cut and a slew of long-standing disinvestment issues are not addressed within three days, we will have no choice but to seek justice through industrial action,” it said.
These pilots have been writing to the airline since October but they haven’t received a reply. In their previous letters, the pilots complained that they are burdened by the “illegal pay cut” of 55% and demanded to be paid as per market standards.
Mentioning their long-standing disinvestment issues, the pilots have also demanded the withheld 25% arrears with interest, statement of gratuity, an option of leave encashment, medical benefits for all permanent employees, tax implication on withheld layover substance allowance and release of pending grades to first officers.