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Soumik Dey
Soumik Dey

AIR INDIA

Air India employees form joint front to resist privatisation

air-india-ap1 Union leaders said that they are keeping a close eye on Parliament ongoings related to Air India's privatisation

A cabinet proposal in June, okaying Air India's strategic divestment, has become a major bane for employees' unions of the national carrier. Five of the seven Air India employee unions have formed a joint front to stage protests against the proposal to privatise the national carrier.

"We protested outside Air India's office in Terminal-3 on Tuesday. More than 500 employees, both staff and contract workers, had joined the demonstartions," said J.B. Kadian, union leader, AI Air Corporation Employees Union, among the largest employee union in the airline.

According to Kadian, the unions have already written separate letters to the Planning Commission and to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju requesting a more 'humane' view towards employees in case of privatisation.

"Five of the unions, including AI Employee's Union, United Air India Officer's Association, AI Service Engineers Association and Air India Cabin Crew Association have formed a joint forum of All Air India Employees for both technical and non-technical staff," said Kadian.

He said that the joint forum would bring demonstrations closer to Parliament, if the government goes ahead with the privatisation plans for the airline.

A secretarial panel, comprising ministry of civil aviation, tourism, department of investment and Public Asset Management and finance secretary are considering various options by which the debt-laden national carrier could be divested.

After two initial meetings, this group of secretaries have asked Air India to draw up a list of its immovable assets first by July 30. 

All expenses related to the airline is being scrutinised to cut corners. Plans to lease eight Boeing wide-bodied aircrafts to add routes to far east and Europe, has also been put on hold, informed an Air India official in-charge of flight operations.

An Air India official, related to human resource functioning in the airline, said that there are no VRS plans that are yet in the offing for employees. "I think the chairman had adequately stressed in yesterday's mail and even before that all licensed staffers (pilots, cabin crew, aircraft engineers) need not worry about their continuity with the airline," said this official.

On Tuesday, Air India Chairman Ashwani Lohani addressed a mail to all Air India employees seeking their cooperation for a fruitful privatisation process for the survival of the 64-year old airline.

Meanwhile, union leaders said that they are keeping a close eye on Parliament affairs related to Air India's privatisation. 

"Any offers for voluntary retirement is not acceptable to us, as Air India was burdened with this Rs 50,000 crore debt due to wrong civil aviation and business policies. Not due to employees," said Parag Azgaonkar, president of Air India Employee's Union, which is the second largest union of Air India employees.  

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Topics : #Air India | #business

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