Air India pilot's body mounts pressure on Aviation Ministry to clear long-standing dues

Indian Commercial Pilot's Association has appealed to  Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to disburse ir long-pending dues immediately. development comes after a meeting held on July 8 that was attended by Indian Pilot's Guild, officials of MoCA and Chairman & Managing Director (CMD).

pilots' body had made it clear that y would support airline during testing times of pandemic provided that every employee of flagship carrier shares burden and agrees for a deduction in individual income.

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"Firstly, we expressed our disapproval for trying to attack frontline workers of Air India who worked during peak of pandemic. However, we expressed our willingness to support our CMD during se testing times in interest of airline, provided every employee of Air India shares burden by taking a percent cut on gross emoluments as per individual's income," pilot's body said.

It also asked company to follow pattern of leave without pay on a month to month basis to be applied across board for all employees in line with market conditions. Orwise, Pilot Association has asked officials to disburse  pending amount of pilots and allow m to quit Air India with immediate effect. 

"Secondly, if above is t possible, we informed MoCA officials to clear our long pending 25 per cent dues immediately and allow pilots to quit Air India with immediate effect," y said.

Pilot's guild has also warned manment to t compel m to resort to any agitation. "We have also requested manment t to instigate us into any unpleasant agitation at this crucial time. We are only standing by principle with a demand that any pay cut has to be across board as per market standards for all employees," pilots said.

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A follow-up meeting has been planned on July 13 to discuss same.

Air India has been instrumental in largest evacuation initiative,  'Vande Bharat Mission' which has repatriated over five lakh citizens to India from 137 countries. mission was launched in wake of  COVID-19 pandemic to bring stranded Indian nationals back to India.

(With ANI inputs)