‘Strike India’ pilots issue warning

New Delhi: Air India pilots, belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines section of the merged entity, have warned of another agitation, including a strike, if talks related to their demand for pay parity and other issues did not start before month end. This section of pilots struck work earlier this year in May causing massive disruptions to air services and losses to the airline.

Maintaining that the civil aviation ministry had not responded to their letters in the past two months seeking an appointment with minister Vayalar Ravi, Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) said the pilots were considering another round of agitation, including a strike, "if our problems are not discussed before November 30".

According to union officials, productivity-linked incentive (PLI) had not been paid for the past four months and issues related to pay parity, fixed flying allowance and layover subsistence allowance remained unresolved.

ICPA sources said they had written two letters to the civil aviation minister -- on 23 September and 7 October seeking an appointment with minister Ravi. They failed to get a response.

ICPA called off its 10-day strike on 6 May after the government assured them that their demands of pay-parity and other grievances would be considered by the Justice Dharmadhikari committee by November and its recommendations implemented under a strict time-frame.