AI pilots call off strike

After three days of negotiations with the government, the pilots of Air India (AI) on Friday called off their strike.

The pilots, mostly from the erstwhile Indian Airlines, were demanding pay parity with pilots from Air India. Indian Airlines had merged with Air India in 2007.

Their demand for an interim solution to the pay parity issue was not met. However, the management decided to take back pilots who were suspended from service and to again recognise the union.

“We call off the strike and will return to work. The government has given us assurances that it will look into all our demands, including complaints of irregularities against the airline management,” said A S Bhinder, president, Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA).

“We explained it will not be possible for the management to offer any interim solution as other unions will also go on strike with the same demand,” said a ministry official, who did not want to be identified.

All that was offered was priority to some of these demands and an assurance that the pay parity issue would be resolved by November. The pilots would be taken back immediately, he said.

“The recognition of the union may take some time as there is a court case that needs to be withdrawn,” added the official.

The management had terminated the services of nine striking pilots and suspended seven, besides de-recognising the union.

ICPA represents pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines who used to operate domestic and short-haul international flights. They wanted pay parity with the other pilots, who receive a fixed component. The ICPA pilots are paid on an hourly basis.

In the first two days of the negotiations, the issue was stuck on the pay parity issue. The pilots were demanding that their salaries be fixed on a 70-hour flying basis. They were also seeking an increase in foreign allowances.

However, the ministry could not offer any money, as a committee headed by a retired judge, D N Dharmadhikari, is already looking at the parity issue. The committee was formed by Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi after consultations with the union.

Air India on Friday operated 55 out of the 320 flights it operates daily. It operated less than 40 flights yesterday.

“The international operations were normal. Air India Express, the low-cost wing of the carrier that operates international flights, and Alliance Air, a regional domestic wing, also operated normal services,” said a release from the airline.

The 10-day strike caused an estimated revenue loss of  Rs 200 crore to the carrier.