Now, AICCA demands pay parity, JPC probe into 'corruption' in Air India

In fresh trouble for the crippled Air India management, the All India Cabin Crew Association today demanded immediate implementation of the merger agreements, including better pay and fixed flying hours, besides a JPC into alleged corruption in the airline.

"We want a JPC probe into the rampant corruption running at levels in the airline. We want a JPC to look into merger of two carriers, questionable aircraft deals, transfer of bilaterals and privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports and land scams behind them," AICCA general secretary Sanjay Lazar said today.

"We support the pilots' demand for parity of emoluments in both the carriers, as our cabin crew members in erstwhile Indian Airlines are being discriminated against, and we demand enhancement of our emoluments too, along with 80 hrs of guaranteed flying allowance for all. All the AKA agreements must also be made binding on them," he said.

However, Lazar said he is against the ongoing strike and appealed to the pilots to call off their agitation, which entered the ninth day today, immediately in the interest of the airline.

"The airline just cannot afford a strike now," Lazar said and stressed that their demand is not a strike threat. "We are against striking work to meet our demands."

"The suspension of the bilateral agreements of crew is both illegal and unwarranted, and we shall not stand by silently but take legal recourse to remedy them," Lazar said, adding that the association was "frustrated" as domestic crew have not been paid their April salary.