Mallya tells Kingfisher employees to refrain from hunger strike

Company says it will not be held responsible for any unfortunate consequences of the protest

At the end of the second day of the indefinite hunger strike of employees Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, the company has asked employees to refrain from the protest once again reiterating it is doing its best to revive the airline. The company has also said it should not be held responsible for any untoward unfortunate consequences as a result of the employee protests.

“We appeal to the employees to refrain from doing anything that will cause hurt to them, their families and colleagues. Neither the company nor its management are to be held responsible for any unfortunate consequences of any such act on the part of the employees,” the company said in a statement.

Employees of  Kingfisher Airlines in Delhi have spearheaded the hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, and have been seated there with their families since Monday morning. They have also filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against Chairman Vijay Mallya saying the non payment of salaries for about 17 months was driving them to suicide for lack of means of sustenance.

While every threat of a hunger strike has been averted so far due to either an assurance from Mallya or lack of permission from the police, employees have claimed this time that the management of Kingfisher Airlines had not contacted them on the hunger strike.  

“We can only reiterate that we are doing our best to revive the airline and raise necessary funds to pay the employees. We sincerely hope that the employees will not continue with their extreme action of hunger strikes and any other extreme steps including the ongoing agitation at Jantar Mantar,” a Kingfisher spokesperson said.

Kingfisher’s airline operations have stopped since October 2012 and there is absolutely no source of revenue or income for the company, as a result of which the company does not have the means and is not in a position to pay employees dues, a spokesperson for the grounded carrier said.

“We are doing our best to revive the airline and try and alleviate the difficulties faced by our employees and towards this end we are in discussions with an investor for much needed infusion of equity into the Company which you are aware of,” the company said.

The Board of Kingfisher Airlines had requested the Board of promoter UB Holdings’ board (both led by Mallya) to pay one month’s salary to  employees of Kingfisher on “compassionate grounds” even though UBHL is not legally bound to pay salaries of Kingfisher employees. However, UB Holdings will need the permission of the Karnataka High Court to use any of its funds as it has been restricted by a previous order in the same court.