Talks to avert Air-India pilots’ strike begin

MUMBAI,MAY 20: Conciliatory talks have begun between the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) and the management of Air India (AI) before the Central ...

MUMBAI,MAY 20: Conciliatory talks have begun between the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) and the management of Air India (AI) before the Central Regional Labour Commissioner to avert a strike by the airline’s pilots from May 28. Representatives of the IPG and the airline are optimistic of a positive outcome of the talks.

The IPG is demanding higher flight allowances for co-pilots in comparison to flight engineers. While the hourly rate for flying which is paid to flight engineers amounts to US $ 77, co-pilots are paid US $ 39 upwards per hour depending on seniority.

“Even the senior most co-pilot will not be able to able to match the flight allowance of a flight engineer,” says V M Mayadev, general secretary of the IPG.

According to the IPG, co-pilots have traditionally been paid more than flight engineers. However, the equation was disturbed two years back when the airline signed a new wage agreement with the engineers. According to Mayadev, talks between the IPG and the management to resolve the issue were inconclusive. Last week the pilots issued a strike notice threatening agitation. The pilots are also demanding that the airline fill up vacancies in their ranks. According to their leaders, the airline is spending crores of rupees on wet-leasing of aircrafts due to a shortage of pilots. Hiring more pilots will ensure that the aircraft utilisation of AI will improve, suggested Capt Mayadev.