AI incentive-cut talks today

Air India chairman and managing director Arvind Jhadav will hold another meeting with unions and staff of the state-owned airline on Tuesday, to continue discussions on the 30-50% cut in productivity linked incentives.

The airline said on Friday that it was in talks with unions, associations and guilds on the issue. An Air India spokesman said Jadhav met representatives of unions and agreed to revert by early next week, after discussing the issue with office-bearers and committee members.

All India Cabin Crew Association president Bharat Raut said on Monday that they will once again confer with Jadhav, as the unions were unhappy with the management decision to cut wages and allowances.

“Though we will adhere by what the management decides, we cannot give up the employees’ interests. We will negotiate on our terms and make sure our demands are heard and met,” he said.

Last Thursday, after a meeting with the management, he said though they will put down their demands, they do not intend to take harsh measures like calling for a strike.
He also said one reason why they were dissatisfied with the move was because the salary structure of employees does not change every three years, as planned.

Productivity-linked incentives vary at every level, depending on the job description and rung of the employee. A lower-level employee gets about 20% of the salary, whereas a higher-level employee gets about 30-40%, said an Air India source.