Air India employees commence hunger strike

About 23,000 employees of Air India began a relay hunger strike across the country on Tuesday morning to protest against the proposed 30% to 50% cut in performance-linked incentive (PLI). PLI is an incentive paid to the ground staff.

The employees said that as it is, they are paid PLI lower than the 50% mandated by a rule of the department of public enterprises. They have lined up a series of protests till the issue is resolved.

Till Friday, they will continue their relay fast. “On Friday, we will form a human chain at Nariman Point,” said Vivek Rao, general secretary, Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU). Thereafter, the employees will go on a “zero-overtime regime” till Sunday. “The CMD [chairman and managing director] says there are 20,000 excess employees,” said Rao. “If there is so much excess, we are sure overtime is not needed.”
“From August 2007 to  November 2008, the PLI for non-technical executive staff has increased by 167%,” said a member of the ACEU. “But for those in the workmen category, it has decreased by 41%.”