GO AIR
The aviation industry is undergoing its worst nightmare and getting past it is unlikely to leave us unscathed. GoAir too is in the throes of a crisis that is unprecedented and their pilots have battened down and awaiting the all clear signal to recommence operations. This is the moment, Pilots are looking forward to, to launch themselves in a cogent manner thereby endeavouring to recapture the skies and become the most preferred Airline of the country. As a natural consequence, they do wish to see a management that is aware of the national imperatives, the directives thereof and structure the airline’s form and shape with the changing times, so that it moves from idle to fully operational state in a seamless manner. This calls for Leadership which has a vision, competence, integrity and leading from the front in an exemplary manner. Unfortunately, GoAir management’s personal avarice, insecurity, incompetence and idiocy stands out as an eyesore rather than any form of leadership. Leadership as seen by us is a trait that is exemplified by competence, courage, character, clarity and compassion . In this, every employee invests their wellbeing, sweat and toil and traverse the difficult path while believing that the leadership shall be as flawless as their Trust in them. Difficult times present unique opportunities to the leadership to prove their mettle and for the employees to redouble their trust and faith. It is the continued show of the above trait by the leadership that keeps employee-employer relationship on an even keel. A breach of trust in the leadership has cataclysmic consequences which any organisation can ill afford. However, the present GoAir leadership has displayed an undesirable and reprehensible side of theirs that needs to be brought within the public domain for the nation to see and judge. The CEO and his ilk informed, through an email, that there would be pay cuts without quantifying the amount, components of the pay affected and likely period for which the same would be applicable. Although a statement regarding compensating the same at a later date was mentioned, no definition of the compensation in terms of form, quantum, expected period when the same would be implemented was stated with any clarity. Compensation to employees who subsequently retire or move on elsewhere has not been spelt out. The email thus proves to be no more than a juvenile attempt by the CEO to address a critical reality. No specifics were dealt with. The tone, tenor, content and mannerism of the email can, at best, be termed as an incompetent novice’s maiden attempt at addressing an educated audience.
1. In an email dated 25/03/20, the CEO states that 'We are left with no choice but to extend a salary cut for all of us for the month of March'. He goes on to state that 'when the tides turn will find a way to compensate all of you for the sacrifice you are being asked to make at this juncture'.
What he deliberately does not mention is the quantum of pay cut and how he intends to compensate for it.
2. Thereafter, in another mail on 01/04/20 to assert that 'you will see less than what you are normally used to seeing as a result of the reduced pay I had announced earlier, but also because we have been forced to defer a portion of your accrued salaries to April'. He further states 'Go-Air portal will contain a detailed explanation of the salary' paid out. CEO did not spell out what percentage is the pay cut. Nor did he state what part of the accrued salaries he has deferred payment and by when he will pay the same. The GoAir portal does not have any clarity on the quantum of salary cut.
Subsequently, salary slip which was deliberately withheld till 3rd and a letter was issued from the VP-HR. 3. In his letter, the VP-HR states that 'the salary has been calculated based on the number of days you worked for the month of March '20....He further states that some of the allowances 'which you have earned for the month of Feb and received additionally as part of your earnings have not been paid for this month'. And he also adds that 'for tax purposes the March 2020 salary paid to you will also be reflected as is in your form 16.
This is smacked of an abominable mischie f being played out.
Th e , explanation, purportedly, justified all imperatives and actions of the Company. The leadership ought to be aware that all employees, irrespective of the job that they undertake, continue to remain on the payroll of the Company and are available for utilisation.
The management deliberately did not specify:
Have the terms of employment changed? Does this mean that if the lock down gets extended further, we will get no pay? Does it mean that henceforth we will only get paid according to what is defined as 'work day' by company?
By changing “Terms of employment”, is GoAir management losing its rights to ask the pilots to serve the required notice period?
This is totally deviant from the open - door and fair - minded policy that has always been the hallmark of Go - Air.
Can one have unswerving faith and trust in such a team?? Government of India, by a notification had unequivocally declared the period thereon as a national calamity and this emergent situation necessitated the ne ed for all to remain indoors and at home. It is opined that this is a national calling and nothing can ever be more critical than this. The Prime Minister personally stated that employees pay, for this period, ought to be protected to ensure the affectivit y of clampdown and minimising hardship to them.
In deference to all these imperatives, GoAir’s management decided to penalise employees by way of a pay cut with a singular objective of going against the objectives of the Nation and foisting trouble in an insidious way. This act can, at best, be termed as Anti - national , with a view to destabilise the efforts o f the nation and incite employees into committing acts that would defeat the nation’s objectives. Sedition may be a strong term but one cannot ignore this delinquency, an act of mischief, as truly being seditious. A few weak and hesitating approaches were made, to help the nation, in this hour of need, but that can unhesitatingly be termed as a smokescreen to mask their true intent of anti-national activities. Pay cuts are, a painful and at times inescapable, part of any organisation’s history and are usually undertaken in a sensitive, compassionate and humane manner with consequences of the same dwelt in great detail. This is to minimise hardship to employees so as to ensure mutual survival.
However, the evil and reckless manner in which they have implemented it, in no way fits the above template. The sinister agenda is now clearly evident. Implicit in the email is an undisguised threat of “If Lockdown, No Pay” notwithstanding the imperatives of the Nation.
The nation or its imperatives is being dismissed as a triviality and employees shall remain victims of a “National Calling”. The leadership shall remain unflinchingly disloyal to any national objectives, interests or critical callings. Their unworthy emails smack of criminality that needs law enforcement authority’s intervention rather than a mere adjudication by a court of law. The situation being a national calamity and we’re worthy soldiers of the Nation in its fight for the same. Fairness and compassion are virtues that make one eligible for the responsibilities above and this has to be displayed in ample measures, especially in such times. Each of the Company’s endeavours are to be interwoven with the national objectives and not merely a notional show. Breach of these objectives borders on criminality. The leadership need to restore pay, forthwith without indulging in acts of criminality. Leadership is a two way street and not a feudal interaction between master and slave. If GoAir management comes out a clear cut policy and notify the employees in advance, It would help quell rumour and doubt that the management is trying to renege contractual commitments..
We are aware that these are very volatile and trying circumstances and, as responsible employees, would like to help in every way to see that we ride the crisis together.