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| Air India pilots call off strike |
| Press Trust of India / New Delhi Sep 30, 2009, 12:05 IST |
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Buckling under government threat of action, Air India pilots today called off their five-day old agitation saying they had received assurances of no immediate cut in their incentives and allowances.
"The agitation is being called off in view of the assurances by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel that status quo will continue on issues," Capt V K Bhalla, representative of the protesting executive pilots, told reporters here.
With about 200 pilots reporting sick as a mark of protest over Air India's decision to cut their productivity- linked incentive (PLI) and allowances, over 240 flights were cancelled and the national carrier is estimated to have incurred a loss of over Rs 100 crore.
"I apologise to the passengers for the inconvenience caused to them due to the agitation," Bhalla said asking the pilots to join work immediately.
Bhalla also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Patel for intervening in the matter.
Government had issued an ultimatum to the pilots to resume duty from midnight last night or face action.
Bhalla said all agitating pilots would be returning to their duties with immediate effect. He also said the pilots would be participating in the meetings of the turnaround committee of the airline to discuss various issues.
He said the pilots have received a communication from the government which has assured that their grievances would be looked into.
Government had said a committee will review the decision of a 50 per cent cut in their PLI and payment of flying allowance of three months.
Bhalla said the minister has given assurance that there will be no salary cuts. "The minister represents the government and I have full faith in him and trust him absolutely," he said.
"We will now work in full cooperation with the management and all the pilots will start flying," he said.
Bhalla said there was need to cut wasteful expenditure like sponsoring of golf tournament which was recently held in Srinagar.
The airline should also look at the issue of reducing fuel costs to increase profitability, he said.
Patel had yesterday appealed to the striking pilots to return to work failing which, he said, the Air India management was "free to take any action" against them.
The Prime Minister had yesterday reviewed the situation arising out of the agitation with Civil Aviation Secretary Madhavan Nambiar and Jadhav.
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