New Delhi, June
5:
With the
agitation by sections of pilots entering its 30 {+t} {+h} day and there being
no sign of a breakthrough, the General Secretary, Indian Pilots Guild, Captain
E.A. Kapadia, outlines what promoted the action by pilots. Excerpts from an
email interview:
What is the
root cause of IPG members going on an industrial action?
Since the
merger in 2007, the management has routinely been passing on benefits to the
pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines while discriminating against the pilots of
erstwhile Air India. Since the merger, the following benefits have accrued to
the pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines;
a) Pay-scales:
Since the merger erstwhile IA pilots have been demanding the same pay-scales as
the erstwhile AI pilots. This completely ignores the fact that the work
schedule of a pilot of erstwhile IA is very different from the work schedule of
an erstwhile AI pilot . For example, erstwhile IA pilot , predominantly flies
smaller aircraft (Airbus 320, 160 passengers), mostly on domestic / short haul
routes, and spends approximately 5 days of the month outside of home. Whereas,
an erstwhile AI pilot, predominantly flies larger aircraft (such as Boeing 747
- 430 passengers, Boeing 777 – 340 passengers), mostly on international / long
haul routes, and spends approximately 25 days of the month outside home.
Further, the
demand of common pay scales, ignores the international precedent, such as
Lufthansa, British Airways, American Airlines, wherein different pay scales
exist for domestic and international pilots. In May 2011, the erstwhile IA
pilots demanded a salary raise and struck work. On 6 May 2011, the officials of
the Ministry of Civil Aviation entered into in agreement with the pilots of
erstwhile Indian Airlines assuring them that their demand for salary raise
would be met.
In November
2011, the management entered into a fresh agreement with the pilots of
erstwhile Indian Airlines granting them a salary raise of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5
lakh for one pilot for one month.
According to
the Government guidelines, a PSU has to generate profits for three years prior
to giving a salary raise. Far from making profits, Air India has not been able
to even pay salaries on time for its 30,000 odd employees. In light of this,
the salary raise given to the 800 odd pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines,
demands a CVC inquiry and a probe by the CAG.
Further, the
Dharmadhikari Committee was supposed to harmonise the pay scales of the
employees of the two erstwhile airlines. It is inexplicable that the management
hurriedly granted a salary raise to the pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines,
even before the findings of the Dharmadhikari Committee are known.
b) Disparity
in career progression prospects: Even five years after the merger, the
management has been discriminating against the pilots of erstwhile Air India
vis-a-vis the pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines. For example, a pilot who has
joined the erstwhile Indian Airlines in 2006, has already been promoted to
Commander's grade, whereas a pilot who joined erstwhile Air India in 2003, is
still awaiting the same promotion.
The above
examples illustrate the discriminatory attitude of the Air India management. It
is this attitude of the Air India management that has caused distress amongst
the pilots of erstwhile Air India and has precipitated in the present
agitation.
Is the
management decision to send pilots of erstwhile Indian for training to fly the
Boeing 787 one of the reasons for the IPG action.
With respect to
the training on the Boeing 787, the management's decision to train Airbus
pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines on the Boeing 787 completely ignores the
cost aspect of the said training. For an Airbus pilot of erstwhile Indian
Airlines to be trained on the Boeing 787 costs about Rs 1 crore; whereas, for a
Boeing pilot from erstwhile Air India, it costs about Rs 30 lakh. Further, from
a flight safety perspective, international Airlines, such as Emirates
discourage the cross utilisation of crew between Airbus and Boeing aircrafts.
Last year
pilots owing allegiance to Indian Commercial Pilots Association stuck work just
as the season was starting. This time it is the turn of AI pilots. Why do
pilots pick only the start of the season to register their protest?
It is the duty
of the management and the Human Resources Department to address the issues and
concerns of the employees in an amicable manner. In the last 4-5 years, there
have been numerous agitations in Air India, involving different categories of
employees. The regularity with which these agitations occur highlights the
utter failure of the human resources department.
At least 68 of
your colleagues are said to be in contempt of court for continuing to not
report for work despite the Court directing them to return to work. How will
you tackle that issue.
The pilots have
not been paid salaries and/or allowances for the last 4 months. This has
resulted in tremendous stress as they are unable to meet their financial
commitments such as home loans etc. In fact one of our members has put his
house on sale, as he is unable to re-pay the EMIs, due to irregularity in the
payment of salaries. Therefore, it is established that the pilots are under
severe mental strain.
The safe
operation of an aircraft requires the pilot to be in optimum physical and
mental health.
If a pilot is
forced to operate an aircraft while he is under mental strain, this can
severely compromise the safety of the passengers, and the crew on board.
At present, the
three licensed category – pilots, engineers and cabin crew—who number about 20
per cent of the work force account for about 80 per cent of the annual salary
bill. Does IPG fear this will change with the implementation of the
Dharamadhikari committee report.
Pilots,
engineers and cabin crew, are highly specialised employees. The remuneration
paid to them is commensurate with their technical qualification, experience and
the responsibilities that they shoulder. Further, the salaries paid are in line
with global airline standards.
Having said
that, as responsible employees, we are fully aware of the distress facing the
company and are more than willing to shoulder the burden. While the employees
are fully accountable, we expect the management to share the same
accountability. There is a feeling that Air India has too many pilots. Despite
almost 100 of your colleagues terminated, the airline is operating 38 daily
international flights down from 45 earlier. How do you respond?
In the last 5
years, pilots have not been granted leave according to their entitlement. The
reason cited for this denial of leave was shortage of pilots. In addition to
this, Air India has recruited expatriate pilots on contract, and has been
continuously recruiting pilots. This proves that indeed there exists a shortage
of qualified pilots.
Further in his
statement on June 2, the CMD stated that Air India requires all the pilots to
return back in order for the airline to survive in the long run.
For an Airbus pilot of erstwhile Indian Airlines to be trained on the
Boeing 787 costs about Rs 1 crore; whereas, for a Boeing pilot from erstwhile
Air India, it costs about Rs 30 lakh.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-logistics/article3494717.ece
