Air India pilots on strike.
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Air India pilots on strike.
Local newse reporting that 400 snr Air India Captains are to go on strike and it could start causing flight problems from today.
There is talk of a 70% reduction in allowances.
PT6A
There is talk of a 70% reduction in allowances.
PT6A
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Two Air India flights were today cancelled due to an agitation called by a section of the national airlines' pilots to protest the up to 50 per cent reduction in their productivity-linked incentives (PLIs).
Air India's flights to Mumbai and Kabul were cancelled this morning as the pilots did not report for duty, airline officials said.
Air India's flights to Mumbai and Kabul were cancelled this morning as the pilots did not report for duty, airline officials said.
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Oh Not not again
400 pilots belonging to the "management" cadre are going on sick leave. They cannot go on strike as they are not part of the union and part of the management (blue collar vs white collar argument). They are hoping the other 800 pilots of the union join the strike to cripple the airline so as to fight back against the "taliban" like decision of the management. Union has not commented. Salary cuts seem to be in the range of 3 lakhs per pilot. Other 800 are still flying as their salary has not been cut (hey whatever happened to the famous lets stick together solidarity? Not from your pocket eh!)
So lets see the savings p/m = 300,000 x 400 = 12 crs per month.
Assuming there are 800 + 400 pilots and the management wants to save this 12 crs per month then split it between all 1200.
This would add upto 1 lakh less per month per pilot or in other words a 25% cut vs a 70%.
Now lets expand it over all the 30,000 employees.......... = 4,000 p/m per employee (naturally an even amount is unrealistic and it would be on some grading to soften blow).
I wonder why not this route to save about 144 crs a year to start with. A small drop but nevertheless a drop.
Oh I forgot............UNIONS
..........so many of them.
Makes sense much like our politicians in India everybody feels they are right and don't care about thier neighbors or their co workers.
For the moment the pilots are too stressed dealing with the paycuts from 4 lakhs to 1.25 lakhs to fly passengers. Hope they all feel well soon as there seems to be a rash of "flew" in this particular section
So lets see the savings p/m = 300,000 x 400 = 12 crs per month.
Assuming there are 800 + 400 pilots and the management wants to save this 12 crs per month then split it between all 1200.
This would add upto 1 lakh less per month per pilot or in other words a 25% cut vs a 70%.
Now lets expand it over all the 30,000 employees.......... = 4,000 p/m per employee (naturally an even amount is unrealistic and it would be on some grading to soften blow).
I wonder why not this route to save about 144 crs a year to start with. A small drop but nevertheless a drop.
Oh I forgot............UNIONS
..........so many of them. Makes sense much like our politicians in India everybody feels they are right and don't care about thier neighbors or their co workers.
For the moment the pilots are too stressed dealing with the paycuts from 4 lakhs to 1.25 lakhs to fly passengers. Hope they all feel well soon as there seems to be a rash of "flew" in this particular section
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Wannabe,
You are either a management shill or an ass.Probably both. Remember the salaries were negotiated by the unions and management. Management agreed to everything in there. Management flew the airline into the ground. Now tough times are here and they want to cut the salaries of pilots?
How about being principaled and taking a salary of Rs 1/- until things improve? After all, all these years the suits in management have made plenty of money and it is probably tucked away someshere safe.
As for the management pilots wanting the union pilots join the strike.LOL.
Would these fine gentlemen agree to do the same if the roles were reversed? Anybody? Thought not.
I hope all this is a lesson to the future generation. Live life frugally if you work for an airline.Who knows when management(not the union ,mind you) will pull the rug from under you. And ,hope wannabe remains a wannabe. You don't want to be in the same aircraft as he is in.
Alt3.
You are either a management shill or an ass.Probably both. Remember the salaries were negotiated by the unions and management. Management agreed to everything in there. Management flew the airline into the ground. Now tough times are here and they want to cut the salaries of pilots?
How about being principaled and taking a salary of Rs 1/- until things improve? After all, all these years the suits in management have made plenty of money and it is probably tucked away someshere safe.As for the management pilots wanting the union pilots join the strike.LOL.
Would these fine gentlemen agree to do the same if the roles were reversed? Anybody? Thought not.
I hope all this is a lesson to the future generation. Live life frugally if you work for an airline.Who knows when management(not the union ,mind you) will pull the rug from under you. And ,hope wannabe remains a wannabe. You don't want to be in the same aircraft as he is in.
Alt3.
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Egos, egos, egos to the fore, once again.
The sooner these clowns realise the world doesn't owe them a living, the better off the travelling public will be.
"you can just about bet the house, that no Ex Pat will cross any picket lines!!"
Why would that be? Why would an expat, who will be on a short term contract, want to support people who cant wait to see the back of them? As an expat would say, it would be the same as "turkeys voting for Christmas", or a sheep voting for Eid.
"For the moment the pilots are too stressed dealing with the paycuts...."
Stress? This is very serious indeed. No they should not be flying if that is the case and before they go back flying, (presuming anyone wants them, if they bring down AI) they should be forced to undergo a long period of stress management counselling.
I see the Indian PM has just returned from overseas. Who flew him around if it wasn't "management" pilots from A I? Scabs?
P.S., any pilot calling in sick should be rushed immediately to an isolation ward at the local state run hospital, until given the all clear. A.I., is state owned I presume. We cant be too careful when dealing with H1N1.
The sooner these clowns realise the world doesn't owe them a living, the better off the travelling public will be.
"you can just about bet the house, that no Ex Pat will cross any picket lines!!"
Why would that be? Why would an expat, who will be on a short term contract, want to support people who cant wait to see the back of them? As an expat would say, it would be the same as "turkeys voting for Christmas", or a sheep voting for Eid.
"For the moment the pilots are too stressed dealing with the paycuts...."
Stress? This is very serious indeed. No they should not be flying if that is the case and before they go back flying, (presuming anyone wants them, if they bring down AI) they should be forced to undergo a long period of stress management counselling.
I see the Indian PM has just returned from overseas. Who flew him around if it wasn't "management" pilots from A I? Scabs?
P.S., any pilot calling in sick should be rushed immediately to an isolation ward at the local state run hospital, until given the all clear. A.I., is state owned I presume. We cant be too careful when dealing with H1N1.
Last edited by weido_salt; 27th Sep 2009 at 05:32.
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Management or ass
Alt3
Just an SLF who is struggling to ensure survivial in business and is scratching his head to see how these big babies are crying away with a pay cut. I have unfortunately had the displeasure of being laid off in the past and this time around having to do the hard task of telling someone to go home as we have no business left. (part of the my business deals with airlines!!!!). Trust me both sides are not pleasent to be on.
Management of AI are big asses not small ones. But so are the politicians in this country who run these airlines. I am not condoning the actions but actually am a strong proponent that this embarressment of an air line should be left to falter and go (30,000 jobs will go with that one). However all 30,000 are part and parcel of the problem and not a select few. It is after all a government job and people joined it much like the rush to join other government jobs because of perks, security, $$$$ and other such things. A strong message needs to be conveyed by tax payers that they do not want their money being pumped into a black hole.
I am also trying to draw a resemblence with Jet strike not so long ago.
The fundamental difference is that with Jet I have a choice to buy their stock or not and my hard work is not subsidizing them. With AI I have no choice as my tax money is going down this hole and then to see that people are demanding 4 lakhs as salary while in the same token I am laying of people earning 10,000 a month who are servicing the same industry.
I am sure the pilots also tucked away some of the good money they made over the past few years. It is only prudent financial sense. I think it is easier to tuck away at 4 lakhs a month than at 4000!
Live frugally in the future you say, well in my opinion be realistic and deal with the ups and downs of life and the facts of life. This slowdown is not endemic to pilots only. Millions are struggling and are making cutbacks. There are so many silent stories.
Unions overall and this is only my opinion take a very one sided approach and especially in a a country like India are led by people with vested interests. Management when run by politicians as in NACIL case is the same wolf in sheeps clothing.
Alt3 don't worry if your CRm is good and I can learn something from you I would never hesitate flying in the same aircraft as you. Such is life.
Just an SLF who is struggling to ensure survivial in business and is scratching his head to see how these big babies are crying away with a pay cut. I have unfortunately had the displeasure of being laid off in the past and this time around having to do the hard task of telling someone to go home as we have no business left. (part of the my business deals with airlines!!!!). Trust me both sides are not pleasent to be on.
Management of AI are big asses not small ones. But so are the politicians in this country who run these airlines. I am not condoning the actions but actually am a strong proponent that this embarressment of an air line should be left to falter and go (30,000 jobs will go with that one). However all 30,000 are part and parcel of the problem and not a select few. It is after all a government job and people joined it much like the rush to join other government jobs because of perks, security, $$$$ and other such things. A strong message needs to be conveyed by tax payers that they do not want their money being pumped into a black hole.
I am also trying to draw a resemblence with Jet strike not so long ago.
The fundamental difference is that with Jet I have a choice to buy their stock or not and my hard work is not subsidizing them. With AI I have no choice as my tax money is going down this hole and then to see that people are demanding 4 lakhs as salary while in the same token I am laying of people earning 10,000 a month who are servicing the same industry.
I am sure the pilots also tucked away some of the good money they made over the past few years. It is only prudent financial sense. I think it is easier to tuck away at 4 lakhs a month than at 4000!
Live frugally in the future you say, well in my opinion be realistic and deal with the ups and downs of life and the facts of life. This slowdown is not endemic to pilots only. Millions are struggling and are making cutbacks. There are so many silent stories.
Unions overall and this is only my opinion take a very one sided approach and especially in a a country like India are led by people with vested interests. Management when run by politicians as in NACIL case is the same wolf in sheeps clothing.
Alt3 don't worry if your CRm is good and I can learn something from you I would never hesitate flying in the same aircraft as you. Such is life.
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Some clarification please....
Was chatting to a colleague last night about this. He is still at AI as a contract pilot. I am interested to find some unbiassed FACTS from what rumour and gossip he passed on to me. I DO NOT state anything that I have written is pure fact. Hence I ask for your advice to clarify things.
All figures and dates are speculative at best! I am seeking your input to correct me where I am (will be) wrong.
AI break the Union some years ago by telling the Cmdrs after 6 months (?) as a Cmdr you get an extra $2k USD per month by gaining a "Managment or Executive" title. That salary top up is called or camouflaged as a "productivity bonus" / allowance.
As I saw on the AI pilot list, nearly EVERY Cmdr is a manager of something it seemed. (?)
New CMD comes in, ruthlessly lowering moral as quick as possible and says he is doing it to save costs (eg duty travel in coach / economy class), etc. He sees all these management pilots and executive pilots getting a base salary of XX and a "productivity bonus" of YY. He says.... "WHAT productivity!? We are in debt $? BILLIONS of USD and they are getting PRODUCTIVITY BONUSES?!" (One may be foregiven for seeing his point?) So, he cuts the productivity bonus since (obviously) no productivity can be shown.
So, sell your soul for some money at the cost of a stable, strong and supportive union (if THAT is possible with the many, many self interest bodies at AI / NACIL). Reap the rewards for a few good years. Times change, economics and the world aviation inidustry changes, a ruthless man without conscience takes the reins and the soul that was sold is now all paid up and he takes advantage of this.
And now people are crying bloody murder.
Now, I may be (in fact I am sure I am) wrong in facts and figures as I am admittedly passing on information from an unreliable source who got his information from rumour and gossip.
Someone who can give an unbiassed REAL account of the history of the union breaking, productivity bonuses, management/exec titles and what has transpired then I [and others] would be most interested.
All figures and dates are speculative at best! I am seeking your input to correct me where I am (will be) wrong.
AI break the Union some years ago by telling the Cmdrs after 6 months (?) as a Cmdr you get an extra $2k USD per month by gaining a "Managment or Executive" title. That salary top up is called or camouflaged as a "productivity bonus" / allowance.
As I saw on the AI pilot list, nearly EVERY Cmdr is a manager of something it seemed. (?)
New CMD comes in, ruthlessly lowering moral as quick as possible and says he is doing it to save costs (eg duty travel in coach / economy class), etc. He sees all these management pilots and executive pilots getting a base salary of XX and a "productivity bonus" of YY. He says.... "WHAT productivity!? We are in debt $? BILLIONS of USD and they are getting PRODUCTIVITY BONUSES?!" (One may be foregiven for seeing his point?) So, he cuts the productivity bonus since (obviously) no productivity can be shown.
So, sell your soul for some money at the cost of a stable, strong and supportive union (if THAT is possible with the many, many self interest bodies at AI / NACIL). Reap the rewards for a few good years. Times change, economics and the world aviation inidustry changes, a ruthless man without conscience takes the reins and the soul that was sold is now all paid up and he takes advantage of this.
And now people are crying bloody murder.
Now, I may be (in fact I am sure I am) wrong in facts and figures as I am admittedly passing on information from an unreliable source who got his information from rumour and gossip.
Someone who can give an unbiassed REAL account of the history of the union breaking, productivity bonuses, management/exec titles and what has transpired then I [and others] would be most interested.
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Wannabe,
For the first time, I see your point of view. I wish you had been this clear earlier.I just thought you were pure managementtrying union-busting. I apologize for my earlier comments. I have misjudged you. Just to clarify, I am still pro union. However, I do believe management, when dealing with union contracts in good days must include so called hardship clauses. Verifiable financial troubles (not just because CMD says so but verified by accountants on both sides) pay and bonus cuts/freeze first for the management,followed by the worker bees. Systematic pay freezes and lay offs/furloughs when times are tough with sytematic recalls with improving times. All this has been done before and has worked. No reason why it can't work in India.
As for AI,I am not a fan of that airline. They deserve to go under.All my concern is for the hundreds of pilots who will be laid off if that happens.
As for the "management " pilots. They threw in their lot with the management and need to pay their dues now.Fire the lot of them I say.Can't be in two boats at the same time and hope to survive.
Again, apologies for a harsh post. I am glad pprune allows us to debate and discuss in a civil fashion.
Alt3
For the first time, I see your point of view. I wish you had been this clear earlier.I just thought you were pure managementtrying union-busting. I apologize for my earlier comments. I have misjudged you. Just to clarify, I am still pro union. However, I do believe management, when dealing with union contracts in good days must include so called hardship clauses. Verifiable financial troubles (not just because CMD says so but verified by accountants on both sides) pay and bonus cuts/freeze first for the management,followed by the worker bees. Systematic pay freezes and lay offs/furloughs when times are tough with sytematic recalls with improving times. All this has been done before and has worked. No reason why it can't work in India.
As for AI,I am not a fan of that airline. They deserve to go under.All my concern is for the hundreds of pilots who will be laid off if that happens.
As for the "management " pilots. They threw in their lot with the management and need to pay their dues now.Fire the lot of them I say.Can't be in two boats at the same time and hope to survive.
Again, apologies for a harsh post. I am glad pprune allows us to debate and discuss in a civil fashion.
Alt3
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Alt3
No Hard feelings.....in a democracy all are allowed to express thier thoughts freely. Just be glad we live in one!
New CMD has a tough job. Who knows what thats guys brief is from the top. With the number work that is public, I would probably have also taken a knife thru the company. I do beleive they tried sitting down with the Union and talking, but got a kick. Again only hear say. If I were to apply my knowledge of running a business this is only the start and if he has strong support his manadate is probably to break the back of the union, settle and offer VRS make the company lean so that it can be taken public and offloaded from the back of the government as soon as possible. he has a 1$ billion budget for that, lets see if the greedy ones bite. Probably will lean back on the management pilots then to fly.
In its current state it would probably bomb at the stock market and no investor would like to touch it.
As for something working in India. Please rememebr Indians are not that far sighted and horible planners. Our execution therefore is mediocore and most of us cannot stand together in a cohesive team. Chalta hai is a part of life here. All it takes is one person to think clearly and rationally, get his team to stand by and he has the ability to change for the better.
Remember divide and rule? Worked great for the Brits and see the outcome 70 years later?
No Hard feelings.....in a democracy all are allowed to express thier thoughts freely. Just be glad we live in one!
New CMD has a tough job. Who knows what thats guys brief is from the top. With the number work that is public, I would probably have also taken a knife thru the company. I do beleive they tried sitting down with the Union and talking, but got a kick. Again only hear say. If I were to apply my knowledge of running a business this is only the start and if he has strong support his manadate is probably to break the back of the union, settle and offer VRS make the company lean so that it can be taken public and offloaded from the back of the government as soon as possible. he has a 1$ billion budget for that, lets see if the greedy ones bite. Probably will lean back on the management pilots then to fly.
In its current state it would probably bomb at the stock market and no investor would like to touch it.
As for something working in India. Please rememebr Indians are not that far sighted and horible planners. Our execution therefore is mediocore and most of us cannot stand together in a cohesive team. Chalta hai is a part of life here. All it takes is one person to think clearly and rationally, get his team to stand by and he has the ability to change for the better.
Remember divide and rule? Worked great for the Brits and see the outcome 70 years later?
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Off Topic:
Two cents..
IMHO, Due to the lack of regulatory and enforcement mechanisms in India the unions have a unique role to play in the Indian economy and development. Hence they cannot be discarded.
The usual argument that they are generally counterproductive is not acceptable because unions just like managements have to work under regulatory mechanisms. The design and efficacy of these mechanisms decides the efficiency of entities working within them.
Managements often have been cause of 'mismanagement-led-inefficiencies', but none talks about banishing the management.
Unions have a positive role to play, the fact that they are not doing it means they need a overhaul and not a clip-the-wing-of-the-reds.
In any economy capital and labor compete with each other, a proper balance has to be reached. This balance is more towards labor in the west than in India (neo-capitalisitic) or China (Communist).
So personally I will always oppose any move to curtail any union.
PS: I am not a red, most of my economics understanding comes from Adam Smith. (and that may not be a lot of understanding)
IMHO, Due to the lack of regulatory and enforcement mechanisms in India the unions have a unique role to play in the Indian economy and development. Hence they cannot be discarded.
The usual argument that they are generally counterproductive is not acceptable because unions just like managements have to work under regulatory mechanisms. The design and efficacy of these mechanisms decides the efficiency of entities working within them.
Managements often have been cause of 'mismanagement-led-inefficiencies', but none talks about banishing the management.
Unions have a positive role to play, the fact that they are not doing it means they need a overhaul and not a clip-the-wing-of-the-reds.
In any economy capital and labor compete with each other, a proper balance has to be reached. This balance is more towards labor in the west than in India (neo-capitalisitic) or China (Communist).
So personally I will always oppose any move to curtail any union.
PS: I am not a red, most of my economics understanding comes from Adam Smith. (and that may not be a lot of understanding)
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Pilots Locked Out
I just got an email from a friend that flys the 777 for AI. He is in Frankfurt and was supposed to operate to Delhi tomorrow. He just got word that everything is cancelled. Hotel said that AI told them to inform the crews that everything is on hold for the moment.
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AI pilots striking
Ok guys let’s get some valid points in here. Everyone has their own opinions on the matter but we must have objectivity here.
Air India is running into losses of Rs 5000 crores + and asking the Govt to bail them out.
Are you telling me that only the Pilots are responsible for these losses? And these pilots are management after giving almost 20 years to the company. Their union was disbanded almost 6 years ago during the SARs crisis. The Supreme Court of India disbanded their union. What choice did they have but to join management at the time since they couldn’t be protected otherwise? Do you think Air India management pilots were just lining their pockets and having it cushy all these years? They have worked really hard and continue to do so under the most unprofessional conditions. They have earned their perks and their allowances and their salaries with the work and the time that they have put in. And Air India pilots are still paid lower than the international standards. Currently they have arrears from 1997 still due to be paid to these pilots, forget about the current cuts.
The contract expat pilots are paid much more. But you can’t blame the expat pilots here for anything. They are here to do a job they were hired to and paid according to international standards. They cannot in anyway be embroiled in this dispute since it has nothing to do with them and their contracts.
The problem here is that these pilots happen to be striking because the cuts are not across the board for everyone. It’s exclusively for a set of “executive” pilots, whom they can control. They are not overpaid, over indulged select lot of employees that have had it real good for a very long time. They have been getting paid for what they have worked for. The union pilots whom they are speaking of are mostly first officers and the pilots that merged over from the Indian Airlines to Air India. They have managed to retain their union. Would you as commanders/captains be willing to continue working when your first officer gets paid more than you?
Air India has over 30,000+ employees in its company. Where are the cuts for them? Do you really believe that the cuts announced so far for 400 + set of pilots are really going to take them out of the red?
“The country knows that Air India has incurred losses due to the wrong policies of the government and the civil aviation minister Praful Patel. It is ironical that instead of making the minister accountable for the present state of affairs, the hapless pilots and workers are being made to suffer.
Fleet acquisition of 122 aircraft at the staggering cost of Rs 65,000 crore, one-sided bilateral agreements, policy of route rationalization, outsourcing of ground operations, the controversial decision of merging Indian Airlines into Air India and rampant corruption are the main factors for destroying Air India."
Instead of taking action against the minister, the government has allowed Air India management to hold the staff responsible for the present mess.”
Air India is running into losses of Rs 5000 crores + and asking the Govt to bail them out.
Are you telling me that only the Pilots are responsible for these losses? And these pilots are management after giving almost 20 years to the company. Their union was disbanded almost 6 years ago during the SARs crisis. The Supreme Court of India disbanded their union. What choice did they have but to join management at the time since they couldn’t be protected otherwise? Do you think Air India management pilots were just lining their pockets and having it cushy all these years? They have worked really hard and continue to do so under the most unprofessional conditions. They have earned their perks and their allowances and their salaries with the work and the time that they have put in. And Air India pilots are still paid lower than the international standards. Currently they have arrears from 1997 still due to be paid to these pilots, forget about the current cuts.
The contract expat pilots are paid much more. But you can’t blame the expat pilots here for anything. They are here to do a job they were hired to and paid according to international standards. They cannot in anyway be embroiled in this dispute since it has nothing to do with them and their contracts.
The problem here is that these pilots happen to be striking because the cuts are not across the board for everyone. It’s exclusively for a set of “executive” pilots, whom they can control. They are not overpaid, over indulged select lot of employees that have had it real good for a very long time. They have been getting paid for what they have worked for. The union pilots whom they are speaking of are mostly first officers and the pilots that merged over from the Indian Airlines to Air India. They have managed to retain their union. Would you as commanders/captains be willing to continue working when your first officer gets paid more than you?
Air India has over 30,000+ employees in its company. Where are the cuts for them? Do you really believe that the cuts announced so far for 400 + set of pilots are really going to take them out of the red?
“The country knows that Air India has incurred losses due to the wrong policies of the government and the civil aviation minister Praful Patel. It is ironical that instead of making the minister accountable for the present state of affairs, the hapless pilots and workers are being made to suffer.
Fleet acquisition of 122 aircraft at the staggering cost of Rs 65,000 crore, one-sided bilateral agreements, policy of route rationalization, outsourcing of ground operations, the controversial decision of merging Indian Airlines into Air India and rampant corruption are the main factors for destroying Air India."
Instead of taking action against the minister, the government has allowed Air India management to hold the staff responsible for the present mess.”
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tiba
What about the travelling public who have kept the AI pilots employed? If it wasn't for them putting their faith in AI there would be no jobs right? How have the pilots repaid this loyalty? With a two fingered salute.
There will be down sizing now at AI, like it or not because the public will vote with their feet. They have a choice which carrier they want to fly on. It is called competition and very healthy it is too. These selfish "executive" pilots are not only putting their jobs at risk and making themselves unemployable in the process, but risking countless other peoples jobs as well.
It was selfish pilots who hammered the final nails into the coffin of Sabena, which cost every employee their job.
If you guys are so unhappy at AI, why don't you just leave, instead of trying to destroy the company? There are plenty of jobs around for sky Gods and plenty of crews around who would be quite happy to fill your boots at AI. if the F/O's are paid more then apply to be a f/o. What's stopping you, egos?
What about the travelling public who have kept the AI pilots employed? If it wasn't for them putting their faith in AI there would be no jobs right? How have the pilots repaid this loyalty? With a two fingered salute.
There will be down sizing now at AI, like it or not because the public will vote with their feet. They have a choice which carrier they want to fly on. It is called competition and very healthy it is too. These selfish "executive" pilots are not only putting their jobs at risk and making themselves unemployable in the process, but risking countless other peoples jobs as well.
It was selfish pilots who hammered the final nails into the coffin of Sabena, which cost every employee their job.
If you guys are so unhappy at AI, why don't you just leave, instead of trying to destroy the company? There are plenty of jobs around for sky Gods and plenty of crews around who would be quite happy to fill your boots at AI. if the F/O's are paid more then apply to be a f/o. What's stopping you, egos?
Last edited by weido_salt; 29th Sep 2009 at 15:15.
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Weido salt
Would you accept a 70% overall wage cut in your salary overnight?
These “selfish “pilots as you have put it, have not for the past 3 months been paid their salaries in full or on time. These pilots did not strike overnight and put the passengers in a quandary. They have been attempting to meet the management repeatedly over the past 3 months to resolve various issues that the management has been throwing at them through dialogue. Air India management has refused to engage in dialogue with them earlier regarding any of this. The management also have had enough time to think about the impact on the travelling public and prepare for the possibility of a strike knowing that it would be in the offing, if they refused to address the pilots and their grievances. As we speak right now, it’s now not only the pilots but various other sections of Air India that are joining in the strike.
What’s interesting is, that while we talk about recession and the global impact of it, in India there was a published report today on how the politicians/ministers have seen a threefold increase in wealth in the last five years. Our erstwhile Civil Aviation Minister is worth just as much as the leading industrialist of this country. And no, he does not depend on his salary that he gets from the Govt. The ones who have bled Air India dry are not its employees that are salaried individuals, who get paid for the work they have put in.....no one has been paid a $ more than they should be, but these ministers and especially our Civil Aviation minister who is single handedly responsible for driving to Air India to the ground.
Whether it’s the pilots striking today or Air India shutting down permanently, (while holding the pilots solely responsible for this), let’s not forget there is a bigger picture at play here and it does not involve the salaried employees or travelling public and their woes. A select few ministers/politicians are going to gain immensely from this shutdown when it happens and are directing it in a manner to ensure that it does happen.
Would you accept a 70% overall wage cut in your salary overnight?
These “selfish “pilots as you have put it, have not for the past 3 months been paid their salaries in full or on time. These pilots did not strike overnight and put the passengers in a quandary. They have been attempting to meet the management repeatedly over the past 3 months to resolve various issues that the management has been throwing at them through dialogue. Air India management has refused to engage in dialogue with them earlier regarding any of this. The management also have had enough time to think about the impact on the travelling public and prepare for the possibility of a strike knowing that it would be in the offing, if they refused to address the pilots and their grievances. As we speak right now, it’s now not only the pilots but various other sections of Air India that are joining in the strike.
What’s interesting is, that while we talk about recession and the global impact of it, in India there was a published report today on how the politicians/ministers have seen a threefold increase in wealth in the last five years. Our erstwhile Civil Aviation Minister is worth just as much as the leading industrialist of this country. And no, he does not depend on his salary that he gets from the Govt. The ones who have bled Air India dry are not its employees that are salaried individuals, who get paid for the work they have put in.....no one has been paid a $ more than they should be, but these ministers and especially our Civil Aviation minister who is single handedly responsible for driving to Air India to the ground.
Whether it’s the pilots striking today or Air India shutting down permanently, (while holding the pilots solely responsible for this), let’s not forget there is a bigger picture at play here and it does not involve the salaried employees or travelling public and their woes. A select few ministers/politicians are going to gain immensely from this shutdown when it happens and are directing it in a manner to ensure that it does happen.
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The Egos?
What about the travelling public who have kept the AI pilots employed? If it wasn't for them putting their faith in AI there would be no jobs right? How have the pilots repaid this loyalty? With a two fingered salute.
There will be down sizing now at AI, like it or not because the public will vote with their feet. They have a choice which carrier they want to fly on. It is called competition and very healthy it is too.
These selfish "executive" pilots are not only putting their jobs at risk and making themselves unemployable in the process, but risking countless other peoples jobs as well.
It was selfish pilots who hammered the final nails into the coffin of Sabena, which cost every employee their job.
If you guys are so unhappy at AI, why don't you just leave, instead of trying to destroy the company? There are plenty of jobs around for sky Gods and plenty of crews around who would be quite happy to fill your boots at AI. if the F/O's are paid more then apply to be a f/o. What's stopping you, egos?
Ego is most losely used word on this news group. Apparently working without proper compensation means a person doesn't have objectionable amount of ego. But if that is the choice I will rather have ego than work at lower compensation (strictly a personal opinion).
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Indian Pilot Dead
Indian pilot found mysteriously killed in Negambo 
A 50-year-old Indian pilot working for Sri Lankan Airlines was found brutally murdered and hanging from the staircase of his house in Negombo this morning, police spokesman Senior DIG Nimal Mediwake said. Investigations into the murder are underway.
Updated @ 29/09/2009 09:17 PM
A 50-year-old Indian pilot working for Sri Lankan Airlines was found brutally murdered and hanging from the staircase of his house in Negombo this morning, police spokesman Senior DIG Nimal Mediwake said. Investigations into the murder are underway.Updated @ 29/09/2009 09:17 PM
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IF i decide to leave the airline today i will have to pay 26.5 lacs of training fee, forego 7.5 lacs of bank guarantee and pay 10 lacs as bond breakage payment. either this or continue to work for the period of bond (10 years). this is indian airlines.
as for the salary payment issue 3 components to salary:
basic salary : starts at 6750 in the 1st year of company. add DA, HRA and all that you get upto 18000 rupees a month
PLI: 16000 per month for the 1st year of service
Flying allowance: 2064 per hour for 1st year of service
so if one flies 60 hours a month (which is the average give or take 10 hours) your gross comes to about 1.2 lacs as flying allowance and basic + pli add another 35000. so about 1.55 lacs per month is the gross for a new co-pilot in the company.
what the management wants to do (they have done it for only the senior management commanders now, but it is pretty much expected for everyone else) is reduce the flying allowance and PLI by 50%. that would mean instead of 1.55 lacs i get about 86000 rupees per month gross. add income tax to it and take home comes to about 58000 rupees per month.
all figures stated above are facts to the nearest thousand and for illustration purpose. yes the pay cut and strike does not go for co-pilots at the moment but is only for illustrative purposes.
now the company pays allowance in the way that in case you fly in august, you get the allowance for august with the salary of september. allowance for month of july and august payable on the last working day of august and september respectively are due.
another bone of contention is that since the company is not paying allowance all pilots at the moment are taking home a salary of only basic + hra/da and all. which comes to about 18k a month. the EMI for a 10 lakh loan to become a pilot comes to about 30k a month for a 5 year period. even if i dont spend a penny on anything, forget BMW even on food i still dont have money to pay for my education loan.
and here i am not even comparing the disparity in the "basic salary" of air india and indian airlines.
this seems like bonded labour. i cant leave the company because of the bond and if i continue i am made to work cheap.
no wonder people have gone on strike.
i just want my flying with a blue sky on top and cumulus clouds at 3000 feet!!!
as for the salary payment issue 3 components to salary:
basic salary : starts at 6750 in the 1st year of company. add DA, HRA and all that you get upto 18000 rupees a month
PLI: 16000 per month for the 1st year of service
Flying allowance: 2064 per hour for 1st year of service
so if one flies 60 hours a month (which is the average give or take 10 hours) your gross comes to about 1.2 lacs as flying allowance and basic + pli add another 35000. so about 1.55 lacs per month is the gross for a new co-pilot in the company.
what the management wants to do (they have done it for only the senior management commanders now, but it is pretty much expected for everyone else) is reduce the flying allowance and PLI by 50%. that would mean instead of 1.55 lacs i get about 86000 rupees per month gross. add income tax to it and take home comes to about 58000 rupees per month.
all figures stated above are facts to the nearest thousand and for illustration purpose. yes the pay cut and strike does not go for co-pilots at the moment but is only for illustrative purposes.
now the company pays allowance in the way that in case you fly in august, you get the allowance for august with the salary of september. allowance for month of july and august payable on the last working day of august and september respectively are due.
another bone of contention is that since the company is not paying allowance all pilots at the moment are taking home a salary of only basic + hra/da and all. which comes to about 18k a month. the EMI for a 10 lakh loan to become a pilot comes to about 30k a month for a 5 year period. even if i dont spend a penny on anything, forget BMW even on food i still dont have money to pay for my education loan.
and here i am not even comparing the disparity in the "basic salary" of air india and indian airlines.
this seems like bonded labour. i cant leave the company because of the bond and if i continue i am made to work cheap.
no wonder people have gone on strike.
i just want my flying with a blue sky on top and cumulus clouds at 3000 feet!!!