New Delhi, July 20, 2020: With salary dues mounting, “corona warrior” Air India pilots have warned the management that “any unilateral change by Air India from agreed upon wage settlement would be illegal and will not be in the interest of our national carrier at this crucial juncture. Such a situation has the potential to flair to an unprecedented magnitude.”
The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) on Monday wrote to airline chairman and managing director (CMD) Rajiv Bansal that while it supports “temporary austerity measures at all fronts” due to coronavirus, the restructuring should be equitable. The pilots are opposing their “proposed cut of almost 60% of gross emoluments” while “the top management has proposed a meagre 3.5% cut on its own gross salary.” So far 55 AI pilots have tested corona positive.
Flying allowance and flying-related allowances, that constitute 70% of crew wages, have not been paid since April 2020. In the past few months, all wages were being paid with constant delays in AI. June’s basic pay is expected this week according to the reports published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
“We have expressed our willingness to negotiate a pay cut in line with the current market conditions … As of date, 55 pilots have tested positive for COVID-19. Is it fair to penalise these pilots by saying that they will be paid on actual flying hours? They are unable to fly as they contracted the coronavirus while on duty. Is this how the aviation ministry wants to honour frontline workers?” The ICPA had written on July 16 to its management.
