Patel seeks cooperation from union in turning around AI

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel today met representatives of Air India employees unions, including those of the pilots, and sought their cooperation to turn around the ailing national carrier which is faced with losses estimated at over Rs 7,000 crore.  

At the four hour-long meeting, the union leaders assured their cooperation after Patel's appeal and came out with several suggestions to cut costs and enhance savings, union representatives said here.  

After meeting the unions, Patel held in-depth discussions on the financial health of Air India with the airline's top brass.  

The union sources said the three-member Air India Board Sub-Committee, set up to chalk out and implement the turnaround plan and deal with staff issues, is likely to be expanded to include five representatives of the employees.  

The sub-committee comprises Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav and Joint Secretaries in the Civil Aviation Ministry, E K Bharat Bhushan and Prashant Shukul.       

There are 14 unions in the state-run airline representing engineers, pilots, cabin crew, officers and other employees.  

Asked whether the issue of cutting productivity-linked incentive (PLI) and allowances came up at the meeting, the union sources said those issues would be discussed with the management.