800-member-strong union threatens to go on strike from March 9; says CMD's reluctance to discuss salary demands is the cause
800-member-strong union threatens to go on strike from March 9; says CMD's reluctance to discuss salary demands is the cause
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The latest one surfaced after a union of erstwhile Indian Airline pilots served a notice to the management on Tuesday threatening to go on strike from March 9 because of the airline's CMD, Arvind Jadhav's reluctance to
discuss their demands related to salaries.
Members of the ICPA, which comprises nearly 800 pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines, are protesting the regular instances of delayed salaries. Demands for payment of pending arrears since the merger have also been put forward.
Sources in the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), which served the notice, told MiD DAY that the union felt Jadhav was solely responsible for this situation.
"We have clearly conveyed our concerns to the civil aviation minister about Jadhav's reluctance to address our demands. He is deliberately ignoring the demands, and hence we are left with no option but to go on a strike," said a senior pilot and union member of ICPA.
Speaking to reporters, ICPA General Secretary Capt Rishabh Kapoor said, "We have served the notice to the management since they have done nothing to resolve the issue despite several opportunities.
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Deadlines have come and gone and still the management has failed to keep its promises. Now, it is the pilots who are incurring losses."
Some senior members of the ICPA, however, feel Jadhav is not the only person who should be held responsible. "How can one hold only the CMD responsible for the entire issue?
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The government allowed the merger, which proved to be a failure. Now it is not releasing the money to AI, so how will the chairman pay?" asked a member.
The Other Side
An AI spokesperson said, "AI has advised ICPA to desist from any action which could breach the peace and harmony and cause inconvenience to our valued passengers.
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We are seriously engaged in turning the company around and such hasty actions would only jeopardise these efforts. AI has informed, and sought the immediate intervention of, the Chief Labour Commissioner."
Jadhav was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts.
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