The pilot associations of Air India have rejected the airline’s revised compensation construction, calling it ‘unlawful’ and ‘unethical’. They’ve requested their member pilots to not settle for the brand new pay construction. In a three-page assertion, the associations mentioned that from the provisions within the revised construction, it was clear that there was a concerted effort to intestine the unions and isolate pilots into particular person packing containers the place they are often exploited and victimised at will by the HR division. “This quantities to unfair labour practices,” the assertion mentioned.

Tata-owned Air India not too long ago re-designed the compensation construction for pilots and cabin crew, together with growing the per-hour flying price for pilots.

An Air India spokesperson mentioned that the brand new compensation construction for pilots and the cabin crew was the corporate’s endeavour to convey parity amongst completely different teams, encourage productiveness and increase emoluments drawn by them. The spokesperson mentioned that the managerial and supervisory position performed by the skilled pilots was additionally being recognised within the type of designating them as Senior Commanders and in addition providing them a particular month-to-month allowance.

The airline mentioned the contracts reflecting these enhancements have been individually despatched to the pilots and cabin crew for the mandatory paperwork. “Numerous pilots and cabin crew have already accepted the brand new contracts and the wage enhancements and development alternatives they permit. The airline will proceed to have interaction with the rest of its employees via this course of as at present there isn’t any recognised union in Air India,” the spokesperson mentioned.

Nevertheless, the pilot associations immediately mentioned that the revised construction seeks to supersede all provide/appointment letters and even understandings, whether or not oral or written. “Successfully you might be asking for carte blanche to run roughshod over all of the phrases and circumstances of our employment,” they mentioned.

The associations mentioned that it was abundantly clear that any change in service circumstances of Air India shall must be completed inside the framework of commercial regulation. “The motion of unilaterally altering service circumstances and thrusting new phrases and circumstances at our membership is wholly unlawful, unethical, and in breach of your share Buy settlement, simply as unlawful because the unilateral alteration of the circumstances governing depart and depart encashment,” the assertion mentioned.

The associations mentioned that the phrases and circumstances weren’t acceptable to the pilots and they’re going to contest “this travesty utilizing any and all avenues”. “Our member pilots won’t signal this unilateral revised phrases of employment and compensation,” the associations mentioned. They additional warned that any coercive steps or victimisation by the corporate in opposition to its member pilots to signal “these draconian phrases and compensation will result in industrial unrest”.

In its revamped construction, Air India has doubled the assured flying allowance part from the present 20 hours to 40 hours. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless a lot decrease in comparison with the pre-pandemic interval when airline pilots have been entitled to a assured 70 hours of flying.

The associations mentioned that the time period price to the corporate for an assumed flying of 70 hours is intentionally deceptive and creates an impression of a beneficiant compensation and accompanying advantages bundle. “The precise assured cash being supplied is just for 40 hrs. Successfully, any time a pilot is on depart or is unavailable because of recurrent coaching necessities of doc/licence renewals to not point out any sick, there may be an automated pay minimize concerned,” the assertion mentioned. 

Additionally learn: Air India revamps compensation construction, doubles assured flying allowance for pilots: Report