Nacil unions, independent directors to discuss turnaround plan today

Trade unions in National Aviation Company of India (Nacil) would meet its four independent directors tomorrow to discuss the company’s turnaround plan, a union source said.

“The independent directors are holding a meeting tomorrow with the representatives of all recognised trade unions in Air India,” said the source. “They are expected to discuss Air India’s turnaround plan with the unions after the Air India Board meeting gets over.”

There are 11 recognised trade unions in Nacil, which represent pilots, engineers, officers and non-executive categories. Two unions — the Air Corporation Employees Union and the All India Aircraft Engineers Association — were derecognised in May after its members went on a flash strike to protest a ‘gag order’ by the management.

Nacil is the holding company formed after the merger of Air India and erstwhile Indian Airlines into one single entity.

The Air India management had last month assured the unions of a one-to-one meeting with the independent directors prior to the finalising of the turnaround plan, he said.

In early March, the government had strengthened the Air India Board by appointing four independent directors – Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman and managing director of Mahindra & Mahindra; Amit Mitra, secretary general of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry; industrialist Harsh Neotia and retired Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major.

The new Air India board had asked the management to prepare a turnaround plan in 30 days as well as setting up four committees to look into human resources, finance, audit and strategic issues in the company.

Last month, the Air India Board reviewed the turnaround plan at its meeting in Mumbai, which was also attended by Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Civil Aviation Secretary Madhav Nambiar.

The Five Year Plan (2010-14) seeks to enhance revenue and cost reduction in the carrier to make it a profitable entity.