Govt talks tough on Air India strike

With prime minister Manmohan Singh taking stock of the situation, government today talked tough on the Air India strike giving the pilots  a virtual ultimatum asking them to resume duty from tomorrow or face "action".

However, the striking pilots were unfazed saying they would continue with their protest.

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel insisted that the cost-cutting decision on productivity-linked incentive (PLI) had not been implemented as yet and hence the pilots had "no
reason to be aggrieved".

"I hope the entire airline (AI) will come back to full operation from tomorrow, failing which the management will be free to take any decision that it feels is necessary," he
said.

Captain VK Bhalla, who is spearheading the pilots' agitation, made it clear that the stir would not be given up. "We are not resuming work tomorrow," he told PTI.

His warning came hours after prime minister Manmohan Singh reviewed the the situation arising out of the four-day old agitation with civil aviation secretary Madhavan Nambiar
and Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav.

Patel said the decision on PLI cut would be implemented only after discussions with the pilots.

Concerned over the agitation that has disrupted the operations of Air India and caused inconvenience to passengers, the Prime Minister took stock of the situation when Nambiar and Jadhav met him this morning. Patel also met the PM in the evening to brief him on the developments.

Nambiar held a meeting with officials of all private airlines, asking them to accommodate the passengers booked on Air India flights which are being cancelled. He also asked
them not to raise the fares in view of the problems in Air India.

Air India suspended booking of tickets till "further notice" and cancelled morning flights to reduce inconvenience caused to passengers due to last-minute cancellation in view
of the agitation.

While assuring the pilots that their perks would not be cut without consultations with them, Patel asked them to be understanding in view of the financial problems being faced by "their own airline".

He said the government would do everything possible to bring about a turnaround in the national carrier and the "employees should also support the effort and put their best foot forward" in this direction.

"We understand the concerns of the employees as no one wants to see take-home emoluments reduced. But at the same time, it is imperative to understand that Air India in its current form cannot absorb the high cost structure," Patel said. "I urge all the pilots and employees to see reason. The government is committed to see Air India's flag flying high and turn around meaningfully... I urge pilots and employees, please cooperate and join duties," Praful Patel said.

Appealing to the pilots, he said "this is India's national airlines, our pride and it is their own airlines."

He asked AI employees to "understand" that the airline was going through a "crisis" like others, including Qantas and Cathay Pacific, which too have gone for cost-cutting.

Patel said AI is not the only airlines or company to go for pay cuts in view of the downturn.

Rubbishing reports that AI pilots were getting meagre wages of Rs5000-6000, he said they draw "respectable salaries".

According to government sources, the pay package of an executive pilot, who ranks deputy general manager and above, is about Rs6.30 lakh per month, including PLI which is to the tune of about Rs 5.70 lakh.

The PLI is fixed for each grade of executive pilot who is required to fly a maximum of 80 hours per month.

"What is the reason for being aggrieved? The PLI for August is pending, nobody has said it will not be paid," he said, adding "no formal decision regarding PLI has been taken for unionised employees. In case of executives (which includes executive pilots), some decision for PLI cut had been taken but it has not yet been implemented."

AI has 7,000 executives, which include CMD, executive directors, DGMs, chief managers and senior managers.