The management of Air India and one of its pilots’ unions, which called for strike from March 9, are set to meet in the Chief Labour Commissioner’s office today to resolve issues regarding pay parity. The meeting comes at a time when the airline’s CMD Arvind Jadhav has taken over the function of human resources just three days ahead of the meeting. Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), a union of 660 pilots belonging to erstwhile Indian Airlines, has refused to withdraw the strike notice, citing lack of trust on the management.
“They (Air India management) have repeatedly flouted the deadlines agreed to. We haven’t received any interim package yet,” said ICPA general secretary Rishabh Kapoor. ICPA had twice deferred the March 9 strike notice following reconciliatory proceedings.
The union has been demanding parity in pay and working conditions with those flying bigger planes on international routes. It has now issued a directive to its members to wear black badges to protest against failed assurances and corruption by the management, said Kapoor. It has also asked members to adhere to the rulebook and not accept flights which do not follow the operating manual.